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All English Fact Checks

False: Photo shows height difference between US and Indian basketball players A photo has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Instagram alongside a claim it shows the height difference between girls' basketball teams from India and the United States. The claim, however, is false. The photo in fact shows girls' basketball teams from the US and El Salvador. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump mocked Elon Musk over Twitter with "call me daddy" post Social media users are claiming former US president Donald Trump mocked Elon Musk in a post on Truth Social, telling the Twitter owner he will not return to the platform until "you call me daddy." This is false; a review of the live and archived versions of Trump's Truth Social account shows no such post being made. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Test results show Covid-19 shots damage the immune system A chiropractor claims in an online video that Covid-19 shots can undermine the immune system, citing test results from a patient. But experts in immunology and infectious diseases say the results do not prove the chiropractor's claims, and an epidemiologist says the vaccines are safe even for people who are already experiencing problems with their immune systems. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese Presidet Xi Jinping to fund construction of new praying direction for Indonesian Muslims Multiple Facebook posts in Muslim-majority Indonesia have shared two screenshots of purported local news headlines that claim a "new prayer direction will be developed in China" and allege that China will fund the project. However, the screenshots have been altered from unrelated news reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows couple fighting over bride’s infidelity A video showing members of a wedding party arguing in the street has circulated in numerous social media posts. The footage purportedly shows a groom confronting his bride for cheating on him with one of the groomsmen. This is false; the footage is actually a scene from a skit written and directed by a comedian. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Foreign troops deployed to the Ethiopian border? A post claiming to show foreign troops being deployed at the border between Ethiopia and Djibouti to help the Ethiopian army fend off rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is circulating on Facebook. This post surfaced as Ethiopia’s military regained control of territory previously taken by TPLF rebels. However, the claim that Russian and Chinese troops are posted in Djibouti is false: When contacted by AFP Fact Check, an official at the Russian embassy in Ethiopia refuted the claims, and there is no evidence that the Chinese news report cited in the false post exists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows KFC Black History Month post Social media posts share an alleged KFC tweet celebrating Black History Month that features an image of a chicken drumstick casting a shadow shaped like a Black Power fist. But the image was originally posted and then quickly removed by KFC Trinidad as the Caribbean country marked Emancipation Day in 2020, and a spokeswoman said it was not shared by the famous chicken restaurant in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia's president broke law by staying in post while running re-election 2019 Multiple Facebook posts which have been shared thousands of times claim Indonesian president Joko Widodo, who is seeking re-election, broke a law that requires politicians to resign their posts before running for the presidency. The claim, which AFP debunked last year, has resurfaced as Indonesians prepare to vote in the presidential election on April 17, 2019. It is false; both the original law and a 2017 amendment clearly state that the requirement to step down does not apply to incumbent presidents. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fraud during 2020 US election CCTV footage filmed inside a polling station has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Chinese-language Twitter posts that claim it shows election fraud. The posts were shared immediately after the US presidential election in November 2020. The claim is misleading; this video was published in 2018 by AFP and other major news outlets in reports about voter fraud in Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 'FDA-approved' Hera Nano Curcumin Milk cures stomach diseases. Videos advertising a purported cure for various stomach problems and diseases have been viewed millions of times in Philippine social media posts that falsely claim the product has been approved by the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A representative for the FDA told AFP that "Hera Nano Curcumin Milk" was not a registered product, and it should not be consumed. Medical specialists separately told AFP the milk product does not cure stomach diseases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows the helicopter of Myanmar military shot down by the ethnic armed groups in March, 2021. Three photos have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that they show a Myanmar military helicopter that was shot down in March 2021 by the Karen National Union and the Kachin Independence Army, two armed ethic groups in Myanmar. However, the claim is false; the photos in fact show a Syrian military helicopter that was shot down in northern Syria in February 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Martha Karua portrait unveiled in US Doctored video (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Several CEOs resign on first day of Ghislaine Maxwell trial Posts shared thousands of times on social media list three companies whose chief executive officers allegedly resigned on the first day of Ghislaine Maxwell's trial on sex trafficking charges. But only Twitter's CEO announced he was stepping down on November 29, 2021, while the leaders of Walmart and CNBC remain in their roles. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: DMX fans escorting his body from hospital Facebook posts claiming to show a crowd escorting the body of American rapper DMX from White Plains hospital in New York — where he passed away — while blasting his music has been viewed thousands of times online. The claim is misleading; AFP Fact Check geolocated the video in Orlando, Florida, with local police also confirming it was filmed there. There is no official evidence that DMX's body was transported to a different state after his death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photographs purportedly show gold bars and treasure stored at Fort Knox Multiple photographs have been shared in South Korean social media posts with a claim that they show gold bars stored at Fort Knox, the US military installation that houses much of the national gold reserves. The claim is misleading: while photos of the building’s exterior are indeed from Fort Knox, all images of gold and other treasures in the post were snapped at unrelated locations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fire at Israeli gas plant Facebook posts shared thousands of times contain a video they claim shows a deadly blaze at an Israeli gas plant after hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in May 2021. But the claim is false: the footage actualy shows a fire at a chemical plant in Texas in 2011 and an explosion at a gas facility in Mexico in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CBC reported Canadian militia group orchestrated Dutch farmer protests Social media posts claim to show an article by Canadian public broadcaster CBC attributing Dutch farmers' protests against environmental regulations to a militia group based in Canada. This is false; the CBC confirmed it never published such an article, and internet searches for the headline also do not find such a story. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Top Glove factory workers run from police raid during Covid-19 lockdown Footage of panicked factory workers running has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook, Instagram and YouTube posts that claim it shows employees at Malaysia's Top Glove — the world's largest glove manufacturer — fleeing a police raid after being banned from operating under Covid-19 lockdown rules. But the claim is false. The video has circulated online since 2019, months before Malaysia reported its first Covid-19 cases. It actually shows workers at a chicken processing factory running away from an ammonia gas leak. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal supporting the farm laws A video shared on social media, including by spokesmen from India’s ruling political party, purports to show Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaking out in support of controversial agricultural laws that have sparked mass farmers’ protests. However, the footage has been misleadingly edited; the longer version of the video from a TV news interview shows Kejriwal criticizing the legislation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows a 5G transmission tower in La Spezia, Italy, set on fire in April 2020 A video has been viewed more than 100,000 times in multiple Facebook posts that claim to show a 5G mast burning in the Italian city of La Spezia. The claim is misleading; the video in fact shows a transmission tower in La Spezia with only 3G and 4G antenna; as of May 13, 2020, 5G has not been rolled out in the northwestern Italian city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of a suspect arrested over the killing of a Philippine teenager Images shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook claim to show a man arrested for killing and mutilating a 16-year-old girl in the Philippines. The claim is false; a reverse image search shows the man was arrested in a separate rape case. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Imran Khan supporter waving gun during rally in 2023 A doctored photo that appears to show a man pointing a gun from a vehicle has been shared thousands of times in posts that falsely claim it shows a supporter of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan at an election rally in March 2023. It circulated online after local media reported that Khan had suspended an election rally in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, following arrests of his supporters. The weapon shown in the photo has been digitally inserted into an image from a rally that Khan led in August 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos of Mount Sinabung’s eruption in Indonesia Six photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show an eruption of Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. The claim is misleading; five of the photos show an arcus cloud formation in the neighbouring Aceh province; one of the photos shows Mount Sinabung erupting. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This is a sewing machine of Aisha, the wife of Prohphet Muhammad A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows an antique sewing machine owned by Aishah, one of Prophet Mohammed's wives. The claim is false: the sewing machine was invented centuries after Aishah lived. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian journalist's vehicle swept away in Telangana Footage of a car being swept away by floodwaters has been viewed more than a million times in Indian news reports and social media posts about a journalist who drowned while covering heavy monsoon rains that inundated the subcontinent's southern Telangana state. Whilst police in Telangana's district of Jagtial told AFP that a journalist drowned in the flood, the clip has been shared in a false context. It has circulated online since September 2020 in posts about a vehicle being swept by flooding in neighbouring Pakistan. The video also includes other elements that indicate it was filmed in Pakistan, including a vehicle with a Pakistani license plate, as well as someone speaking in Urdu-language. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Colin Powell death from Covid-19 complications means vaccines not effective Social media posts claim that Colin Powell's death from complications caused by Covid-19 means vaccines against the disease are ineffective. This is misleading; Powell had a type of cancer that experts say undermines the efficacy of the shots, and data shows his age left him especially vulnerable. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Not Recommended: Make your own baby formula with karo syrup Social media posts claim parents facing baby formula shortages should make it themselves. But pediatricians told AFP they do not advise their patients to use homemade formula, warning it may lack vitamins and nutrients key to helping infants grow and thrive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video shows a building collapse from the earthquake in Turkey Social media users are claiming a video shows a building in Turkey destroyed by the giant earthquake that hit the country on February 6, 2023. This is false; the clip is from April 2016 and shows strong winds taking down a building's scaffolding in the Tama area of Tokyo, Japan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Woman arrested in Australia for wearing burqa A photo of police escorting a burqa-clad woman in handcuffs has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram which claim she was arrested in Australia for wearing a burqa. The claim is false; the photo is actually a 2015 AFP image of a woman who was arrested in Spain for allegedly recruiting other women to join Islamic State. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines cause blindness Social media posts warn against coronavirus vaccines, claiming research shows they cause blindness. But the study cited online did not establish vaccination as the cause of a rare retina condition, and ophthalmology experts say the risk of vision impairment is greater following Covid-19 infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows remains of Sri Lanka's giant Bulbatha An image of a huge skeleton has been shared on Facebook with claims that it shows the remains of Bulatha, a mythical giant that is said to have built a reservoir in Sorabora, Sri Lanka - 200 kilometres east of Colombo. This is false; the image shows a sculpture by Italian artist Gino de Dominicis exposed in a square in Milan in 2007. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos taken 80 years apart show no rise of the sea level A photo collage has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that the two photos were taken 80 years apart and show there has been no rise of the sea level. However, the claim is false: the first image was taken in 2008 and has been digitally doctored to appear older, while the second photo was taken sometime between 1987 and 2012. As of the end of 2019, the global mean sea level was 87.6 millimetres above the 1993 average, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows staged corpse staged by Ukrainian army in Bucha? Footage of two men handling a mannequin is circulating in social media posts that claim it shows a "prop" passed off as a dead body in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where dozens of corpses were discovered in April after Russian forces retreated. In fact, the video -- viewed hundreds of thousands of times -- was not filmed in Bucha. It was recorded for a Russian TV drama in Vsevolozhsk near Saint Petersburg on March 20, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows former ex-minister saluting president in parliament Online posts circulating in crisis-hit Sri Lanka have shared an image alongside a claim it shows the island nation's former energy minister gesturing admiringly at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa despite the latter sacking him in March 2022. The image has been shared in a misleading context: it had previously appeared in an August 2020 news report about the opening of Sri Lanka's parliament. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The image shows a bomb attack in Myanmar's ancient city Bagan A photo has been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts which claim it shows a pagoda in the ancient Burmese city of Bagan that was purportedly destroyed in a bomb attack on August 7, 2021. However, the claim is false; there were no reports of a bomb in Bagan at this time and the photo has been circulating online since at least 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video shows a Chicago Walmart in April 2023 A video shared widely on Twitter is claimed to show a Walmart looted in the US city of Chicago in April 2023. This is false; the footage was captured in June 2020 amid unrest following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer, according to the reverse image searches, the American retailer and the journalist who recorded it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Breathing steam from a boiling pot of water will treat or cure a novel coronavirus infection A video viewed more than 2.4 million times on Facebook urges people to inhale steam to “kill” the novel coronavirus. But experts say that doing so will not treat or cure the viral infection, and could in fact be harmful. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Protester seen with Rahul Gandhi chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ at 2020 rally Two photos have been shared thousands of times on social media alongside a claim that they show Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi with Amulya Leona, an Indian protester who became infamous for chanting a pro-Pakistan slogan at a rally in February 2020. This is false. The woman seen with Gandhi is Miva Jolly, a student leader from the south Indian state of Kerala. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Preventive measures from a Chinese doctor on cutting coronavirus transmission A list of purported preventive measures for individuals to take against COVID-19 has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook. The posts claim the guidelines were revealed by a "Chinese doctor" and helped China to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. But the recommended practices are misleading; health experts told AFP there is no scientific basis for many of the claims, which include using red-coloured soap and white handkerchiefs, as well as obtaining specific light bulbs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indicted Nigerian police chief in California over 'Hushpuppi' fraud An image showing a Nigerian cop implicated in a US fraud case standing next to a man in a suit has been circulating on social media in Nigeria. The posts claim that Deputy Police Commissioner Abba Kyari is in the United States, trying prove his innocence against the charges. But the claim is false: there is no evidence that Kyari has travelled to the United States to defend himself, and the accompanying photo is old and unrelated to the trial. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Data show increase in cancer cases in South Korea after Covid vaccination South Korea's government health insurance agency has rebuked Facebook posts falsely presenting data on cancer patients' insurance claims as an increase in cancer cases due to Covid-19 vaccines. There is no evidence that Covid-19 vaccines cause cancer. As of February 2023, South Korea had not yet published data on the number of new cancer cases since its vaccine rollout began in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Wax on apples accumulate and become harmful when eaten? A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that eating apples without peeling the skin is harmful, as they are coated with paraffin. The claim is misleading; health experts told AFP that food grade paraffin-coating on fruits is safe for consumption. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadian sniper Wali killed in Ukraine 20 minutes after deployment Multiple posts on Facebook have claimed that a sharpshooting Canadian sniper known as Wali was killed by Russian special forces 20 minutes after he arrived on the frontline in Mariupol, Ukraine as a volunteer fighter. However, this is false; the man, a former Canadian Armed Forces sniper, dispelled the rumours of his death during a video call. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Japanese tombstones equipped with QR codes An image of a person scanning a QR code displayed on a tombstone has been shared multiple times on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows Japanese gravestones equipped with QR technology. The claim is false. The image actually shows memorial gravestones for the Chinese victims of World War II at a theme park in Chongqing, China. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Officials of ruling APC claim Lagos has third largest economy in Africa Officials of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have alleged that Lagos State is the third-largest economy in Africa. The claim spread after an influential ex-governor of the state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was nominated as the APC’s candidate for the presidential election set for February 2023. His running mate, Kashim Shettima, made the same assertion at a recent lawyers’ conference. But AFP Fact Check found this to be false: official data shows that, though the state is Nigeria’s biggest economy, it is not among the top five economies on the continent. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows the arrest of the star of a Filipino TV show critical of the police An online report which has been shared on Facebook contains footage which it claims shows the arrest of the star of a hit Filipino show that is critical of the police. The claim is false; the video is actually a news report about the arrest of two women. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lanka Olympic team resources stretched due to 60 accompanying officials An image of a Sri Lankan runner using safety pins to attach her name tag to her shirt at the Tokyo Olympics has been shared in multiple posts, along with a claim implying that the national team's resources are stretched because "60 officials" chose to accompany them. But the claims are misleading -- the Sri Lanka Olympic Committee showed AFP evidence that only 20 officials are accompanying the team; photos from the Games show the use of safety pins to attach name tags for races is not uncommon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man sentenced to death in Syria for preaching the gospel An image has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook purporting to show a man who was sentenced to death in Syria for preaching the gospel. The claims are false; the picture is of Majid Kavousifar, an Iranian man who was convicted of assassinating a judge in Iran. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigeria has banned textile imports A post shared hundreds of times on Facebook claims that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has placed a ban on the importation of textiles to the west African country. This is false; the central bank did change its policy on textiles in March 2019 but this does not amount to an import ban. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows new US currency launched in September 2020? A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts and on Line messaging app alongside a claim that it shows a new currency called “USN” launched by the US Department of the Treasury in September 2020. The claim is false; the US Treasury told AFP the video does not show a new US currency and that no new currency was launched in September 2020; the video was originally published in 2018 by a Belarus-based graphic artist who created the designs as a conceptual project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Invisible ink pens are used by Thai electoral officials at polling stations Social media posts in Thailand have shared a baseless rumour warning voters that electoral officials plan to give them "invisible ink" pens at polling stations in the general election on May 14. The posts claim the ink would fade away after voters cast their ballots, leaving them open to interference. An election monitoring group said the claim was "disinformation" which previously circulated during the 2019 election. The election commission said it would provide voters with regular ballpoint pens and they would also be allowed to bring their own pens. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows flooding at Karachi airport in July 2022 As monsoon rains lashed Pakistan in July, footage of a passenger plane taxiing on a flooded runway was viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it was filmed "live" at Karachi airport. But the clip was shared in a misleading context: it has circulated in reports since August 2020 about flooding at Karachi airport. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Rapex condom can be bought at pharmacies and Shoprite More than a decade ago, the world was introduced to an "anti-rape" device called Rape-aXe (RX). The female condom, invented by South African medical technician Sonnet Ehlers, works by hooking onto an attacker’s penis. Over the years, thousands of social media posts have claimed that the device is commercially available. But while some samples were distributed, Ehlers told AFP Fact Check the prototype has neither been mass-produced nor made available for purchase. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Blood donation results in free novel coronavirus test Social media users are claiming that people can get a novel coronavirus test by donating blood. This is false; the two organizations responsible for collecting the vast majority of the blood supply in the United States said they are not testing for COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flooding at Chennai airport in India in November 2021 A video has been viewed over a million times on Facebook with a claim that it shows floods at Chennai airport in India after heavy rains disrupted flight operations in November 2021. The claim is false; the video circulated in reports about floods at Mexico City's airport in August 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flooding in China's Jiangxi province A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows flooding in the southeast Chinese province of Jiangxi in June 2022. Although hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from southern China after flooding in late June, the clip predates the catastrophe. It was filmed in central China's Henan province, and has circulated on Chinese social media since July 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows bus accident of umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Footage of a vehicle engulfed in flames has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely link it to a deadly bus crash in Saudi Arabia in March 2023. The video has in fact circulated online for years in reports about a fatal accident on the same road in Saudi Arabia six years earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows the Taliban fighters offering prayers for gratitude after capturing Kabul Multiple Facebook posts claim a photo of men praying in a field shows Taliban fighters in Afghanistan offering thanks after the fall of Kabul. The claim is false: the photo is actually a 2012 Associated Press image which shows Eid prayers in Afghanistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Monthly financial aid of RM300 for Malaysians Multiple social media posts share a misleading claim that all Malaysians are entitled for a monthly aid of 300 Malaysian ringgit ($67) in the form of electronic cash. The claim is based on clickbait blog posts. In fact, the Malaysian government has refuted the claim, saying there is no such financial aid. The blog posts actually mention a financial aid scheme for lower income residents in the Malaysia state of Selangor. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows flooding in Kenya’s Kisumu county A photo of two vehicles being swept away by floodwaters has been shared on Facebook with a claim that it was taken in the Nyando constituency in Kisumu county in Kenya. The post used the image to attack a local MP, blaming him for the poor state of the infrastructure. But the claim is false: the image actually shows floods in neighbouring Homa Bay county in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: US Senate has announced the novel coronavirus is a scam A video of a press conference held by US senators has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that the US Senate has announced that "corona is a scam". This is misleading. The US Senate has never made such a declaration, a spokesman for the Senate majority leader told AFP. While the Republican senators in the video are raising questions about the origin of the novel coronavirus, they are not doubting its existence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows robbery in Malaysia A video has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that it shows a robbery outside a mall in Malaysia. The claim is false; the clip shows a simulation of a robbery that was staged by Malaysian police for a public awareness campaign. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Starbucks will stop accepting cash Social media posts claim Starbucks will stop accepting cash. This is misleading; while some individual stores may decide to go cashless, the American coffee company said it has no plans to roll out the policy to all branches in the United Kingdom, Canada or the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Three Western countries issuing Ethiopians ‘free’ asylum visas Clickbait post (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pork bone broth-flavoured instant noodles are certified halal An image of a package of "pork bone broth flavour" instant noodles with a halal logo -- indicating it is permissible for Muslims -- has been shared hundreds of times on social media, with users questioning the credibility of the halal status. This is misleading. According to the list of ingredients, the instant noodles contain no meat products, including pork. Japan's Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA), which issued the certification, confirmed the instant noodles are vegan and halal. However, NAHA also added that following their request, the Japanese noodle manufacturer has recalled the noodles for misusing the word "pork" on the packaging. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows "Trudeau Must Go" protests outside CTV Ottawa Social media posts sharing footage of a massive rally at a public plaza say it shows a February 18, 2023 protest in Ottawa against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This is false; the video was taken earlier in the month at a demonstration in the Spanish capital Madrid. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Virginia Tech swimmer tweeted about Lia Thomas A tweet attributed to collegiate swimmer Reka Gyorgy, blaming transgender athlete Lia Thomas for costing her a slot in a major finals, has been shared across social media. But Gyorgy, a Hungarian who represents Virginia Tech University, told AFP she did not send the tweet, and Twitter said the impostor account using her name has been suspended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Messenger RNA is transferring from the vaccinated to the unvaccinated A US cardiologist claims in an interview spreading across social media that people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine could pass on messenger RNA (mRNA) to the unvaccinated through close contact, causing harm. This is false; the shots approved in the US and Canada do not contain live, weakened versions of the coronavirus, and the studies referenced in the video do not prove the jabs pose a threat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: IPOB not ranked on 2023 terrorism index Supporters of the Nigerian separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have claimed that it was not listed as one of the world's deadliest terror groups on the 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI). Nigeria considers IPOB a terrorist organisation and its leader is currently in detention. AFP Fact Check found that IPOB was initially ranked as the tenth deadliest terror group in the latest GTI published by the Institute for Economics in March 2023. However, the institute has since amended its report to differentiate between IPOB as a "peaceful" secessionist movement and the alleged violent activities of its paramilitary wing. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Republican votes were mixed with tabulated ballots, not counted Social media posts misleadingly claim that the ballot counting process in Arizona's Maricopa County was conducted in a fraudulent manner, adversely affecting Republican voters. But officials and independent experts say multiple systems were used to ensure all votes were counted correctly. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines contain magnetic microchips Social media posts claim Covid-19 inoculations are an elaborate cover for the implantation of microchips, with videos suggesting people’s arms exhibit magnetic properties afterwards. But this is a hoax. The posts are the latest incarnation of a microchip conspiracy theory pushed by individuals and groups whose amplification of falsehoods are adding to vaccine hesitancy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Shireen Mazari the only one wearing mask during Afghan delegation visit A photo of Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari is circulating in social media posts claiming she was the only person wearing a face mask at a meeting with the Taliban foreign minister. The claim is misleading; while most delegates in the photo are not wearing masks, the original image has been cropped to remove a member of the Afghan delegation and people in the background who were wearing face coverings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: There have been 11 deaths from school shootings in the history of Canada A tweet claiming Canada has seen only 11 people die in school shootings in the country's history was recirculated in posts advocating for stricter gun laws following a deadly assault on an elementary campus in the US state of Tennessee. The figure is not supported by official data and is misleading; it excludes shootings at Canadian universities, and without a uniform method to count incidents, cross-country comparisons are inaccurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan judge was made President of Appeal Court after giving permission for MP on death row to attend parliament A claim that the president of Sri Lanka’s court of appeal, Judge A.H.M.D Nawaz, was appointed to the top post after allowing a lawmaker on death row to attend parliamentary sessions has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The claim is false: the convicted lawmaker was granted permission to attend parliament in September 2020, over eight months after Nawaz was made president of the court of appeal in January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: India releases water into Chenab River in Pakistan, causes massive floods Footage of floodwater crashing over a bridge has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a river overflowing in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir after India reportedly dumped floodwater there in July 2022. However, the clip was actually filmed in Iran in January 2020, when flash floods caused massive damage in southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a highway winding through mountains in South Korea A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that falsely claim it shows a highway winding through mountains in South Korea. The footage actually shows an expressway in Guizhou in southwestern China. The same clip has previously circulated in posts falsely claiming it showed a road in Indonesia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Video shows UFC fighter Michael Chandler condemning assault in China A doctored video of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) player Michael Chandler has been shared in Chinese-language social media posts that claim he is condemning an attack on a group of women in China in June 2022. But the original clip, in which Chandler challenges his opponents to a fight, predates the incident. The Chinese subtitles superimposed on the video were intended as a satirical commentary on the attack. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows people running in Times Square after Brooklyn metro attack Social media posts claim video footage of panicked people running from New York's Times Square shows reactions to a subway shooting in the city on April 12, 2022. But the footage was taken days prior to the attack in Brooklyn, and it actually shows crowds fleeing a manhole cover fire in the Broadway theater district of Manhattan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: No Democrats voted for the cornavirus stimulus measure Posts on social media claim that no Democrats voted for the “the stimulus package to help American families” during the novel coronavirus crisis. This is misleading; Democrats overwhelmingly backed two bills aimed at countering the virus and its fallout, and while senators from the party blocked an initial proposal for the third, they voted unanimously for a later version. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Only two media covered the Malaysian prime minister's visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2023 Social media users have shared a false claim that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2023 was not accorded proper media coverage, with only two news outlets reporting on it. In fact, four Malaysian media organisations, which were part of the press pool travelling with Anwar, reported on his trip. At least two Saudi news outlets published reports of the Malaysian leader's visit on a daily basis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tens of thousands of ballots need to be "cured" in Georgia's DeKalb County Social media posts claim that there are tens of thousands of ballots in Georgia’s DeKalb County that have issues needing to be fixed, or “cured.” This is false; the county’s election board said the number was around 200 as of November 4, 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ted Cruz has tweeted the same response after multiple mass shootings Following a May 2023 attack at a Texas outlet mall, social media users are claiming US Senator Ted Cruz has tweeted the same message after multiple mass shootings. This is false; the Republican lawmaker has only published the post cited online once -- the other examples are fabricated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Alberta failed to prove Covid-19 had been isolated in human tissue Facebook posts say Canada's Alberta province lifted all coronavirus pandemic measures, Germany suspended licenses for Covid-19 vaccines, and Japan is recommending the drug ivermectin as a treatment for the disease. But the posts -- some of which include claims about Romania as well as Denmark -- repeat inaccurate assertions that have been previously fact-checked by AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: A genuine press release from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews? An image purporting to show a genuine press release from the office of Australia's Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has been shared in multiple Facebook posts following his admission to hospital after an injury. The supposed statement, however, was not released by Andrews's office and was created by internet users as parody. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccine causes erectile dysfunction Posts claiming that Covid-19 vaccinations are causing erectile dysfunction in men have been circulating widely on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in Indonesia. The claim is false: vaccine manufacturers say there are no documented instances of Covid-19 vaccinations causing male impotence; experts told AFP that erectile dysfunction is most often caused by psychological not physical issues. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eight countries pulled their ambassadors out of Turkey pre-earthquake Western embassies in Turkey have rubbished claims that they removed their ambassadors from the country shortly before a devastating earthquake on February 6, an accusation shared in social media posts spewing baseless conspiracy theories that the disaster was planned. Media reports and social media activities placed the ambassadors in the country around the time of the quake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of Palestinian girl taken during 2021 Hamas-Israel exchanges of fire A photo of a distraught Palestinian girl clutching her books following “the Israeli bombing” has been shared on social media during the current conflict in Gaza. But the image is a seven-year-old picture captured in the territory by Fadi Thabet, who confirmed the date it was taken and appealed for the photo not to be misused. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows buses parked in protest of fuel price in November 2021 An image showing hundreds of buses parked on a lot has been shared in multiple Facebook posts about a transport strike in Thailand against rising fuel prices in November 2021. But the image has been shared in a misleading context; it is actually an AFP photo taken in March 2020, showing tourist buses left idle due to coronavirus restrictions. AFP found no reports of a bus strike taking place in the country in November but only strikes from truck operators. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Italian Covid-19 victims A video of a couple together in hospital has been shared in multiple Facebook, YouTube and TikTok posts alongside a claim that the individuals are Italian Covid-19 victims. This is false; the video in fact shows a scene from a Mexican television drama that aired in 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump signature on US stimulus cheques issued from March 2021? An image of a cheque bearing the name of former US president Donald Trump is circulating in social media posts which claim that relief cheques issued from March 2021 to help Americans struggling during the pandemic will be signed with Trump’s name. The claim is false; the White House said the cheques will be signed by an official from the US Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, breaking with the Trump era’s policy of including the president’s name on Covid-19 relief cheques. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Afghan cricket captain Mohammad Nabi kissing Pakistani flag A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows the Afghan cricket player Mohammad Nabi kissing the flag of Pakistan. The claim is false: an image comparison found that the video shows a TikTok user kissing the flag, not Nabi. The cricketer's management team dismissed the Facebook posts as "rumours". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows rare flower that blooms only once in every 400 years A photo of a colourful plant has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts claiming it shows a rare “Mahameru” flower which purportedly blooms only once every 400 years. The claim is false; the image in fact shows a plant called Salvia ‘hot lips’, a popular garden plant which blooms every summer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows prominent Philippine personalities voicing support for anti-terror law A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows prominent Philippine personalities voicing support for the country's recently enacted anti-terror law. The claim is false; the audio in the video has been doctored to include messages of support for the law; the original video shows the Philippine stars voicing opposition to the law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: photos show Thai student leader meeting US ambassador in September 2020 A photo collage has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and messaging app LINE alongside a claim that it shows a Thai student activist meeting the American ambassador to Thailand in September 2020 to plan further anti-government protests. The claim is false: both photos were posted online in June 2016 -- some four years before the 2020 anti-government protests in Thailand began. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Russian, Spanish airlines are telling COVID-19 vaccinated people to not fly Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim airlines in Spain and Russia warned people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 not to fly because they have an increased risk of developing blood clots. This is false: airlines in those countries have issued no such advice as of May 25, 2022. Health experts say blood clots are a rare side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine and are not the same as those that occur during flights. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Kamala Harris said people of color are prioritized for Hurricane Ian aid Social media posts in multiple languages claim US Vice President Kamala Harris said people of color would be prioritized for Hurricane Ian relief. This is misleading; Harris' full remarks indicate she was talking about distributing resources to communities disproportionately affected by climate change, not allocating aid for the Category 4 storm that recently hit the US. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: United States crime statistics in 2015 Multiple Facebook posts have repeatedly shared a graphic purporting to show 2015 US crime statistics released by the “Crime Statistics Bureau - San Francisco”. The posts purport to compare offender rates based on race and statistics on police killings. They were shared as large anti-racism protests were held across the US over the police killing of George Floyd. The claims are false; a US criminologist said the statistics are “bogus”; the San Francisco Police Department said the “Crime Statistics Bureau - San Francisco” cited in the posts does not exist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows ‘fish rain’ in Honduras A photo of a street covered in fish is circulating in reports about a town in Honduras where the sky "rains fish", a baffling phenomenon where heavy downpours leave hundreds of fish scattered on the ground. The photo has been shared in a misleading context; it was taken after the door of a truck carrying fish accidentally opened in Guizhou, China in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian song "Kebyar Kebyar" played at 2020 Tokyo Olympics A video has been viewed hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a Spanish singer performing an Indonesian patriotic song at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The claim is false: the video actually shows an English band performing the song at a concert in Indonesia in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Italian singer selling bra in 1955 A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a "famous Italian singer selling her bra to a crowd in 1955". The claim is false: the photo shows Hollywood actress Katie Holmes reenacting a protest scene for a magazine feature in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows victim of 2022 Hazara school bombing A photo of a woman with scars on her face was shared thousands of times in Twitter and Facebook posts that claim she survived a classroom bombing that killed dozens in Afghanistan's capital Kabul in September 2022. The photo, however, has been shared with false context. It was originally published in April 2016 and shows a woman who was seriously wounded in a suicide attack on TV workers in Kabul that year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 clinic in Toronto lured children to accept a vaccination without parental consent by offering ice cream while police ensured guardians remained outside Social media posts claim that a Covid-19 clinic in Toronto lured children to accept a vaccination without parental consent by offering ice cream while police ensured guardians remained outside. But the video used as evidence shows anti-vaccination protesters confronting officers at the clinic, and the event organizer said that despite a local law allowing youths to agree to vaccination, parents were present throughout. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indigenous students were shot due to overcrowding at a Mohawk residential school in 1943 A class photo from a Canadian residential school for indigenous children is resurfacing on Canadian social media alongside claims that all of the children in the photo were killed in 1943 due to overcrowding, and their remains were found in a mass grave in 2008. This is false: representatives of the cultural center standing on the site of the Mohawk Institute told AFP no mass grave was discovered, and the photo used in the post was taken in 1925 in British Columbia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show relief packs from Marcos Jr government for Storm Nalgae victims Several photos have been shared in Philippine social media posts that falsely claim they show relief goods distributed by the president's sister, Senator Imee Marcos, after the country was hit by Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae in late October 2022. The images in fact predate Nalgae. They show pandemic aid packages distributed in April 2021 and Senator Marcos at a relief drive for a different typhoon in early October 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Giant turtle on the beach in Mexico A video of a large sea turtle dragging itself on a beach towards the sea has been shared hundreds of thousands of times in multiple languages on social media. Several publications assure that the scene was captured in Mexico, another that the event took place in Brazil. Although these images of a leatherback sea turtle are real, they were actually captured on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bangladesh opposition leader Tarique Rahman wins Ballon d'Or of Democracy A photo has been shared multiple times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows Tarique Rahman -- son of Bangladesh’s former prime minister Khaleda Zia -- becoming the first Asian person to win the "Ballon d'Or of Democracy". The claim is false; the photo has been doctored from an image of Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi after he received his seventh Ballon d’Or award in Paris in 2021. In response to the misleading posts, France Football -- the organiser of the Ballon d'Or -- said there was no such award as the "Ballon d'Or of Democracy". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Maskless people in Hong Kong gym during pandemic Soon after a rapidly expanding cluster of Covid-19 infections was reported in a Hong Kong gym in March 2021, a group photo of people without facemasks in a gym has circulated on Facebook alongside claims that the picture was taken during the pandemic at Ursus Fitness, the gym linked to a string of Covid-19 cases. The claim is false: the original photo was in fact posted on Facebook by Ursus Fitness in November 2019, before Hong Kong declared its first Covid-19 infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows conflict between civilians and soldiers in Nagaland. A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Twitter and Facebook posts that claim it shows an altercation between soldiers and civilians in India's northeastern state of Nagaland. The post circulated online after 13 civilians were killed by Indian security forces on December 4, 2021. The video, however, has been shared in a false context: the footage has circulated in news reports from 2018 about an incident in Corinto, a town in southwestern Colombia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Scientific study finds semen a cure for COVID-19 A video has been viewed more than 100,000 times in multiple posts on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter in which a purported Philippine doctor claims ingesting semen could cure a patient infected with the novel coronavirus, citing a 2016 scientific study. The claim is false; the authors of the 2016 study told AFP the claim was "ridiculous" and their findings have “nothing to do with COVID-19”; as of May 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is no cure for COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian politician pinned Pakistan flag to his car A photo has been shared in social media posts that claim it shows Pakistan’s national flag pinned to a car purportedly belonging to an Indian politician. The claim is false: the flag pinned to the car represents the Indian Union Muslim League party -- not Pakistan. Government documents indicate that the car does not belong to the Indian politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: World Bank praises Tanzania's anti-coronavirus policies Articles claiming the World Bank has applauded Tanzania’s anti-coronavirus policies have been widely shared, with one attracting thousands of interactions on Facebook. The publications claim the East African country was singled out for praise in a report for implementing “unique policies” in the fight against the novel coronavirus. But the report does not include any such mention and the World Bank has denied specifically highlighting Tanzania’s COVID-19 response. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tonic of onions, ginger and garlic cures Covid-19 A video shared thousands of times on Facebook claims that a tonic made of onions, ginger, garlic, lemon and hot water can cure Covid-19. This is false; health professionals, including those at the World Health Organization (WHO), have repeatedly refuted these claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows bodies recovered from Lekki Toll shooting in Nigeria Numerous social media posts have shared an image of shrouded bodies lined up on the ground, claiming they are casualties from the shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll in Nigeria’s largest city Lagos on October 20, 2020. But the claim is false: the photo shows dead members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who were killed in 2018 in the capital Abuja when security forces opened fire at a rally. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian president gives unprotected handshake while wearing face mask A photo circulating on Facebook in Nigeria appears to show President Muhammadu Buhari shaking hands with the nation’s Code of Conduct Bureau Chairman Mohammed Isa while both men are wearing face masks — a seeming flouting of precautions during the novel coronavirus pandemic. This is not what happened. The image was doctored using an old photo, taken long before the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: There is no link between hurricanes and climate change After Hurricane Ian ravaged the US state of Florida, media pundits claimed online that there is no link between such storms and climate change. This is misleading; while hurricanes have always existed, scientists say their intensity and potential for destruction are increasing as the planet warms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Lipid nanoparticles in mRNA vaccines cause organ disorders Social media posts with thousands of views misleadingly claim lipid nanoparticles -- the substance that serves as the delivery system for mRNA vaccines -- are harmful as they "distribute disorders across several organ systems in the body". While serious side effects have been recorded following mRNA vaccination, these have been extremely rare, safety data from inoculation programmes around the world indicates. Experts told AFP that lipid nanoparticles have not been linked to organ disorders. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Woman should not take birth control pills two weeks before and two weeks after Covid-19 vaccination because of blood clot risks Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook warn women to avoid taking birth control pills two weeks before and two weeks after their Covid-19 vaccination. The posts claim that failure to do so will result in blood clots and death. The posts are misleading: health experts say there is no credible scientific evidence that birth control pills pose risks when taken alongside Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sir David Attenborough urges people to feed bees sugar water A screenshot has been shared thousands of times on Facebook which purports to show a social media post by British broadcaster Sir David Attenborough urging people to feed sugar and water to bees. But the screenshot does not show a genuine post by Attenborough; the 93-year-old naturalist does not have any public social media profiles; the BBC has denied Attenborough made the statement; beekeeping experts told AFP that feeding sugar water to bees can be harmful. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: COVID-19 does not spread from “person to person” and cannot be caught by “touching surfaces” Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, does not spread “from person to person”. The posts also claim that people cannot become infected by touching contaminated surfaces. The claims are false; international health authorities say COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pacific islands are not threatened by climate change An article shared online says Pacific islands are growing and are therefore not threatened by climate change. The claim misrepresents scientific research: one of the studies cited said the expansion was mostly due to construction, while scientists agree that rising seas and stronger storms threaten such islands. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Four Ukrainian soldiers have died after participating in trials of US-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine in Kharkiv, Ukraine Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter claim that four Ukrainian soldiers died after participating in American COVID-19 vaccine trials in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The claim, published in several languages across different posts, was attributed to a police spokesperson in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic. The claim is false; Ukraine military and Kharkiv medical officials said the posts were “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: UN moves to Toronto An April Fools’ article announcing the United Nations’ decision to relocate from New York to Toronto was shared as authentic, particularly by groups which have previously posted in opposition to the UN. The article is satire and no UN move to Toronto was announced on April 1, 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: UN issues warning on new Covid-19 variant The United Nations has rebuked a fabricated statement attributed to the agency, which warns that the Omicron XBB coronavirus subvariant is "deadlier" than the Delta strain. Health experts say that while the subvariant is highly transmissible, evidence available in January 2023 showed that neither the XBB subvariant nor the more-recent XBB.1.5 subvariant causes more severe disease or death than Delta. AFP has previously debunked misinformation about XBB. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nova Scotia put AEDs in schools because of Covid-19 vaccine side effects Social media posts claim a decision by Canada's Nova Scotia to equip public schools with defibrillators is linked to rare side effects of Covid-19 vaccines. But the provincial government said the move is unrelated to the pandemic, and a Canadian foundation said efforts to make the life-saving devices accessible in public buildings, including schools, have been ongoing for more than a decade. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This bloodied Koran was found at the scene of the Christchurch mosque attack An image of a blood-soaked Koran has been shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Baaz, a social media platform for the Arab world, alongside messages deploring the mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand last Friday. Some of the posts claim the photo was taken at the scene of the attack. This is false; the picture already appeared online in September 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows crowd at the Delhi airport to welcome Sri Lankan singer An image has been shared in multiple news articles and Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows thousands of people gathered at India's Delhi airport to welcome a Sri Lankan singer. The image, however, has been shared in a misleading context: it shows a crowd at Japan's Narita airport in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows progressive US Democrat lawmakers wearing outfits with swastikas An image shared hundreds of times on Facebook purports to show prominent US Democratic Representatives, including Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, wearing outfits emblazoned with swastikas. The image, however, has been doctored from a photo which shows the politicians wearing outfits that do not display swastikas. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A priest castigated VP Leni Robredo over her vote-buying remarks. Facebook and YouTube posts circulating in the Philippines purport to show a video of a priest "castigating" Vice President Leni Robredo for controversial remarks she made on vote-buying. The claim is false. The video shows a priest's homily made before Robredo's comments. Father Franz Dizon said his message was not about her. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Russia confirms the novel coronavirus is man-made Multiple articles and social media posts viewed tens of thousands of times claim the Russian Ministry of Health confirmed in a document that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is man-made. The claim is misleading; the Russian Ministry of Health said it did not make such a statement; the document cited in the misleading posts states COVID-19 is a “recombinant virus” which can form naturally. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Siriraj Hospital's dean giving tips about Covid-19 A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows the dean of a Thai hospital giving Covid-19 prevention tips, including the importance of boosting your immune system. The claim is misleading: the woman in the misleading video is not a Thai hospital dean. Health experts told AFP that having a healthy immune system does not entirely preclude the possibility that someone will develop Covid-19 symptoms. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New York City's Chinatown was transformed into Koreatown Multiple Korean-language social media posts shared in April 2022 claim that authorities in New York City "transformed a dying Chinatown into Koreatown". The posts shared purported photos of Chinatown before and after the development. But a New York City Council spokesperson told AFP that Chinatown had not been replaced, adding that the authorities had no plan to redevelop it. AFP geolocated the two photos in the posts to two distinct neighbourhoods in New York City. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian leader in Paris for postponed conference Numerous social media posts are sharing reports that Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had travelled to Paris to attend the Africa-France Summit, unaware it had been delayed. However, the claim is false; while the Africa-France Summit, originally scheduled for July 2021, was indeed postponed to October, the Nigerian leader arrived in France for a separate meeting that is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show APC campaign rally in Nigeria Chicago music festival (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Islam indoctrination in Canada schools A Facebook post claims that Canada’s government “is now introducing Islamic indoctrination into all public schools,” with students reading the Koran and promoting Sharia law. This is false: Canada’s public education is secular and does not teach religious precepts, nor can the federal government impose curriculum as education is a provincial prerogative. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: AT&T audit of Dominion Voting Systems linked to Nashville bombing Social media posts shared thousands of times claim AT&T was contracted to conduct a “forensic audit” of machines from election technologies firm Dominion Voting Systems, linking this to a bombing near one of the telecommunication company’s facilities in the US city of Nashville. But AT&T and Dominion say the audit claim is false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BBC published a fact box saying monkeypox is airborne Social media posts share what appears to be a fact box from the BBC saying monkeypox is airborne and has been "classified as a form of herpes." This is false; the British broadcaster told AFP the graphic is fake, and US health authorities say the information in the image is incorrect. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: RM480 financial assistance for Malaysian housewives A false claim that Malaysian housewives are entitled to a cash handout of 480 Malaysian ringgit ($108) has been shared repeatedly on social media. While some of the posts sharing the claim make reference to a real scheme where the government would deposit money into eligible housewives' provident accounts to encourage them to make more voluntary contributions, the scheme required them to make payments before the money would be disbursed and it was not made as a cash payment. The body responsible for managing Malaysia's provident fund system also told AFP in late March 2023 that the incentive scheme had been suspended "until further notice". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australian police shoot dead Chinese woman in Australia A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Weibo posts that claim it shows police in Australia shooting dead a Chinese woman in the street. The claim is false; New South Wales Police said the woman was tasered, not fatally shot, during an incident in Sydney in March 2017; other videos from the scene broadcast in local media reports show the woman was alive following the police encounter. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Consuming silver particles kills novel coronavirus Contact us E-mail (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Filipino doctor endorses magnetic underwear for penis enlargement Facebook pages have surfaced in the Philippines impersonating popular doctor Winston Kilimanjaro Creones Tiwaquen to sell magnetic underwear that purportedly increases penis size. Tiwaquen said he did not endorse the garment, which medics said cannot enlarge the male genitalia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Rodrigo Duterte having a simple 2019 New Year's celebration Photos that have been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter at the beginning of January 2019 claim to show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte having a “simple” New Year's celebration. A reverse search reveals, however, that the photos were taken in December 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tanzania kicks out the WHO? An article claiming that the Tanzanian government has kicked the World Health Organization (WHO) out of the country has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. The claim is false; there is no evidence of any such directive and a WHO representative in Tanzania confirmed that the office is still operational. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Antarctica's record-cold winter means global warming is exaggerated Social media posts cite record cold temperatures in Antarctica as evidence that global warming is exaggerated or non-existent. But glaciologists and climate scientists say the cold weather does not mean climate change is not occurring, and that global warming is resulting in overall higher temperatures and melting ice in Antarctica. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows deadly plane crash in Indonesia in June 2022 Links to blog articles featuring a photo of a plane wreckage have been shared in multiple Facebook posts with the claim the image shows an Indonesian plane crash in June 2022. But the claim is false; the blog articles discuss a 2007 plane crash in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta and feature an AFP photo of that incident. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: California Senate Bill 145 decriminalizes sex with minors Facebook and Instagram posts shared thousands of times make false and misleading claims about California Senate Bill 145 and the ability of courts to keep children safe from sexual predators. The bill does not decriminalize statutory rape; it is intended to end what the bill’s backers say is discrimination against LGBTQ youth in a law governing the state’s sex offender registry. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows New York City celebrating Tucker Carlson's ouster Social media users are sharing a video that purportedly shows New York City residents celebrating Fox News host Tucker Carlson's firing in April 2023. This is false; the footage depicts a celebration after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 US presidential election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Postponing elections is international norm during coronavirus pandemic? A graphic aired by Hong Kong channel TVB appeared to show that countries including Canada, the UK and New Zealand had postponed key elections due to the novel coronavirus. The graphic was broadcast after Hong Kong delayed its September elections for a year because of the pandemic. Some social media users criticised TVB in posts on Facebook and Twitter for what they claimed was a false comparison. Of the four countries listed in the graphic only New Zealand has postponed its national election -- the other countries have postponed local elections. TVB corrected the graphic but said the social media posts were a "smear tactic". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 pandemic was planned In a video clip viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media, US rapper Pitbull repeats the false assertion that the Covid-19 pandemic was planned. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Empty station during Covid-19 outbreak in China’s Hangzhou city in 2021? A video of an empty train station in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou has been viewed tens of thousand times in social media posts alongside a claim about trains being suspended due to a "breaking news" incident during the pandemic. The posts circulated online in December 2021 after Hangzhou faced a new Covid-19 outbreak. The video, however, has been shared in a misleading context; it was taken from a news report filmed in August 2019 when a typhoon hit eastern China, months before the country reported its first Covid-19 cases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: PCR test is unreliable and endangers human health Facebook posts shared repeatedly in Thailand warn that Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) nose swab tests for Covid-19 are inaccurate and harmful to human health, including claims that they can damage nerves and the brain. But experts told AFP there is no evidence that PCR tests are dangerous. International health bodies have approved the test as the gold standard for diagnosing Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Kamal Gunarathne praised ex-minister Rishad Bathiudeen in speech Multiple Facebook post shared hundreds of times claim that they show the current Sri Lankan Defense Secretary was filmed praising a former minister who is alleged to have had a connection with a terrorist suspect. The claim, however, is misleading; the video that was screenshotted in the posts does not show the defense secretary making the alleged remarks and his comments have been taken out of context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of hunter Ian Gibson being trampled by an elephant A picture that has been widely shared on social media for several years has been misrepresented as showing the death of professional big game hunter, Ian Gibson. The image is actually of an elephant in South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park and the people in the vehicle were unharmed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 2019 Kumbh Mela? Photographs purportedly showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2019 Kumbh Mela festival in the northern city of Allahabad have been shared thousands of times on Facebook. But the pictures were actually taken in 2004 during a different Hindu festival in the city of Ujjain -- around 500 miles away from Allahabad. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of volcanic eruption in DRC A video showing lava flowing from a volcano has been viewed thousands of times on social media posts with a claim that it shows the recent eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The claim is false: the footage shows the eruption of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall mountain in March, captured by two photographers and posted on Instagram weeks before Mount Nyiragongo exploded into life in DR Congo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows Canadian PM Trudeau joining a sit-in in support of Indian farmers. A photo of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sitting with members of Sikh community has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows him attending a demonstration in Canada in support of Indian farmers' protests against new farming laws. The claim is false: the photo actually shows Trudeau and his family participating in the Diwali festival at a Sikh shrine in Canada in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Army torture Kashmiri journalist in prison A series of photos has been shared in Facebook posts that claim they show a Kashmiri journalist being tortured in a prison cell by Indian soldiers. The claim is false; the images are actually screengrabs from an Indian TV series. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: This picture shows Moon Jae-in looking at a sign with a hostile message An image appearing to show outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- who pursued a policy of engagement with North Korea during his term -- confronted with a placard that says he "must die" and "screw off to the North" has been repeatedly shared in Korean-language social media posts. But the placard has been digitally doctored: it originally showed a message asking Moon to support local merchants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pipeline and mine photo are evidence that hybrid cars are not "clean" A photo collage circulating on Facebook claims to show a large open lithium mine "for hybrid cars," contrasting it with an image of an oil pipeline running through a forest landscape and suggesting that such vehicles are not clean. But hybrid and electric cars generally have a smaller carbon footprint than those powered by gasoline, and the posts picture a gold rather than a lithium mine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Government in Indian state forced police to clean mosque for prayers Social media posts purport to show a photo of police officers "forced" to clean a mosque by authorities in West Bengal in India, a Hindu-majority state with a significant Muslim minority whose government has been accused of pro-Muslim bias. The claim is false; the image has circulated in news reports from 2016 about a clean-up operation in the southern Indian state of Telangana. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows schools destroyed in Amhara region of Ethiopia Images of buildings in ruin have been shared on Facebook in Ethiopia purporting to show schools in the country’s Amhara region destroyed by rebels backing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Large parts of Amhara, which shares a border with Tigray, have been infiltrated by rebels and several schools were destroyed in the ongoing conflict. However, the images shared on Facebook show American high schools destroyed by tornadoes in Missouri and Texas, in 2011 and 2019 respectively. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian governor-elect is the first from the Labour Party Shortly after Nigeria's Labour Party candidate Alex Otti won the gubernatorial election in the southeastern state of Abia on March 18, 2023, social media users began circulating a claim that he was the party’s first elected governor in history. But this is false: that honour belongs to Olusegun Mimiko, who became Labour's first elected governor in 2009 after a successful court appeal against the results of the state elections in Ondo two years earlier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo features the house of Prophet Mohammed’s daughter An image of a traditional Turkish beehive house has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a house that was once inhabited by the Prophet Mohammed's daughter, Fatima. However, the Christian minister who took the picture told AFP it shows a house in a southern Turkish town, where experts said there is no historical record of the prophet or his daughter ever having lived or visited. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Lithuania removing railway track against Russia in 2022 A video of a railway track being removed has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times after it circulated in posts that claim it shows Lithuania cutting off transit with a Russian exclave after the EU sanctioned certain goods in response to Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. Although Lithuania did follow the EU sanctions in blocking certain goods to Kaliningrad, the video has been shared in a false context. It was uploaded in a 2017 post about railway repairs in Estonia, years before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Keyword searches found no official reports about Lithuania removing the railway track. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Johns Hopkins is the source of a list of points on the novel coronavirus Social media posts attribute a list of points about the novel coronavirus to Johns Hopkins, a leading source of information on the virus. But the US university’s medical program said it is not the source of the claims, and while some are accurate, experts say others contain false or misleading information. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: There are no treatments to cure plague? Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim new cases of plague have been detected in China and there are “no treatments” to cure it. The posts also warn the plague could become an epidemic that is more serious than the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claims are misleading; on July 7, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak of plague in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region and in neighbouring Mongolia was being “well managed” and not considered “high-risk”; health experts say plague can be treated with antibiotics. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Koran recitation as part of the Italian government's effort to fight COVID-19 pandemic A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows a Koran recitation in Italy as part of the government’s effort to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claim is misleading; the footage shows an interreligious gathering held by the Diocese of Carpi in northern Italy to remember COVID-19 victims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian police officer stomps on head of Jamia Millia Islamia student at citizenship law protest in Delhi A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that it shows an Indian police officer stomping on the head of a student protester from New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university. The claim is false; the photo was taken during a protest in the northern Indian city of Lucknow in March 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show car accident in Pakistan Photos of a car that was split in two in a crash have been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts claiming they show an accident in Pakistan. The claim is false; the photos were taken in India, when a car was sliced in half in a freak accident that killed three people, police told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Drinking pineapple juice can improve recovery for people undergoing wisdom tooth surgery Social media posts claim that drinking large quantities of pineapple juice before wisdom tooth surgery is an effective way to reduce inflammation and could result in a pain-free recovery. But doing so is not recommended by US dental associations and experts, and there is no established evidence that it will have a significant effect on patient recuperation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hindu festival Maha Shivratri is no longer celebrated in Pakistan's Karachi Social media posts shared repeatedly in India have promoted a false claim that the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri is no longer observed in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, its Muslim-majority neighbour. The claim circulated alongside a black-and-white image supposedly showing the festival being celebrated in the city in the 1920s -- when it was part of British colonial India. In fact, an official at the Pakistan Hindu Council said the festival -- which is listed as an "optional holiday" by the government -- was observed in Karachi in February. AFP also located footage of the festival being celebrated in the city from a YouTube user who said he filmed it this year. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show terrorist trio captured with weapons in Nigeria Nigeria is battling a string of security challenges, including secessionist movements, insurgencies, kidnappings and fatal clashes between nomadic herders and locals. A recent Facebook post alleged that a set of photos showed three herders arrested with an assortment of weapons at a “terrorist camp” in Enugu state in southeast Nigeria. But the claim is false: image searches revealed that the photos show three Bahamian teenagers accused of robbery and rape in 2021, while the assorted weapons were seized in Kenya and Uganda. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pornhub ranks Nigeria as top porn-watching country A claim shared on social media purports that adult content website Pornhub named Nigeria as the top country for consuming pornographic content in the world. This is false; Pornhub lists the United States as the biggest driver of traffic to its site. A spokesman told AFP Fact Check that Nigeria does not rank in its top 20 countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka tops the world most foolish voters list on Boston Globe An image which has been shared multiple times on Facebook purports to show a report in US newspaper The Boston Globe ranking Sri Lankans the world's “top foolish voters”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: If masks work, wearing them should be optional Social media posts shared thousands of times criticize the use of masks to curb the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, asking why one person should have to wear a face covering if somebody else’s works. This is misleading; according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks help prevent people from spreading or contracting Covid-19, and widespread use makes them more effective. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Letter showing Hong Kong government will reintroduce extradition bill A photo of a Hong Kong government letter has been shared thousands of times in Facebook, Twitter, and online forum posts which claim it shows the Hong Kong government plans to revive a withdrawn extradition bill after a second reading in the legislature. The claim is false; the letter actually states the bill would be given a second reading on October 23, 2019 before it was formally withdrawn; John Lee, Hong Kong’s Security Secretary announced on October 23, 2019 in the legislature that the bill was withdrawn. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Picture shows deforestation in Sinharaja forest Sri Lanka A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside claims that it shows deforestation in Sinharaja, a protected forest reserve in Sri Lanka. The claim, however, is misleading; the photo in fact shows deforestation in the Amazon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows protesting farmers replaced Indian tricolour with Khalistani flag at Red Fort in Delhi Videos of protesting Indian farmers storming Delhi’s historic Red Fort and hoisting flags have been widely shared on Facebook and Twitter alongside claims that they replaced the Indian national flag with the flag of Sikh separatist ideology Khalistan. The claim is false; the protesters did not unfurl the Khalistan flag but a Sikh religious flag, and the Indian national flag remained intact. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignores outgoing president Ram Nath Kovind during his farewell ceremony A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that purport it shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignoring former president Ramnath Kovind during his farewell function and instead posing for the cameras. However, the video has been shared in a misleading context. A longer video shows Modi greeting Kovind before turning toward the cameras. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows China’s population data in 2020. Social media posts circulating in China purport to show the country’s latest population statistics from 2020. However, the figures are false. They include outdated provincial figures from 2018 along with incorrect numbers for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. China has not yet released its population data for 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian National Congress workers feeding cake to a poster of a former porn actress Mia Khalifa Soon after former adult film actress Mia Khalifa tweeted her support for protesting farmers in India, an image circulated online that purported to show a group of men feeding a photo of her on a poster. The image circulated alongside a claim that the men were Indian National Congress party politicians. The image, however, has been doctored to include the photo of Khalifa. The original photo is an AFP photo that shows young Congress supporters feeding cake to a photo of party leader Rahul Gandhi on his birthday in 2007. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: BBC reports on release of 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski An image circulating on Facebook and Instagram purports to show a BBC News tweet reporting that US President Joe Biden has granted a pardon to Ted Kaczynski, the US hermit-mathematician known as the Unabomber who was sentenced to life behind bars for sending fatal letter bombs. The claim is false: the image was taken from a BBC parody account and has been digitally altered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: A study shows Covid-19 vaccination is linked to excess deaths in Australia Social media users have been sharing a draft study as justification for an unsubstantiated claim that excess deaths in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic were caused by vaccination. However, there is no evidence the paper has been peer-reviewed or published in an academic journal, and a wealth of experts and data have concluded that Covid-19 vaccines are safe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Genuine news report says Pope Francis announced coronavirus vaccine is 'required to enter heaven' An image has been circulated on social media that purports to show a genuine news article about Pope Francis announcing that people must receive the Covid-19 vaccine in order to enter heaven. The posts, shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts, criticise the Pope's alleged comments. But the image in the posts is actually a screenshot of a satirical article; as of December 9, 2020 there are no credible reports of Pope Francis making such a statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Trump announces coronavirus vaccine is 'ready' A video of US President Donald Trump and a top US pharmaceutical executive speaking at a press conference has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts alongside a claim that it shows them announcing a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was "ready" to be administered. The claim is false; neither Trump nor the pharmaceutical executive make any reference to a vaccine being "ready" for distribution; as of March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) states there is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Thai Prime Minister sat on the ground during meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei A photo collage that contains an image purporting to show Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha sitting on the floor during a meeting with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been shared repeatedly on Facebook. But the image has been doctored: the original photograph shows Prayut sitting next to Hassanal on a sofa during a meeting in March 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kentucky governor attended the 2020 Derby without a mask Facebook posts claim Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear attended the 2020 edition of the state’s famous horse race, and didn’t wear a mask for protection during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is false; the 2020 Kentucky Derby took place without spectators except for necessary staff, and the photo illustrating the claims dates from 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Vaccinated people are more susceptible to Covid-19 variants Online articles and social media posts use studies on Covid-19 vaccination to claim that the shots make people more vulnerable to contracting the disease. But experts say the claims misrepresent the research, and that unvaccinated people are at greater risk of infection, hospitalization and death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sara Duterte criticises Rodrigo Duterte's Senate candidates A photo shared hundreds of times on social media purports to show Sara Duterte, daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, holding a poster that criticises several pro-administration candidates running in May’s legislative elections. The claim is false; the image has been doctored. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of huge rallies backing the Indonesian president’s re-election bid? Several Facebook posts -- which have been shared thousands of times -- feature images they claim depict large rallies held to support Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s 2019 re-election bid. They were actually taken when Widodo first ran for the country’s top job in 2014 or when he attended an event linked to the Indonesia-hosted Asian Games in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows people fleeing 2007 post-election violence in Kenya Social media posts in Kenya claim to show a photo of women and children fleeing the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. This is false; not only was the image taken years later in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following skirmishes between rebels and government forces in 2012, but part of it has also been manipulated by adding flames in the background. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ethiopia seizes cash from TPLF officials fleeing the country An image of boxes and suitcases full of cash has been making the rounds on social networks in Ethiopia with claims that it shows money seized from officials of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) who were attempting to flee the country amid conflict in the restive northern region. But this claim is false; the image dates back to 2017 and shows money recovered from the apartment of a Brazilian politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows tsunami waves hitting Tonga? After a powerful undersea volcano eruption near Tonga triggered a tsunami across the Pacific, Facebook posts shared a video they claimed showed huge waves hitting the island nation. The claim is false; the footage shows waves crashing against an apartment building in the Canary Islands and has circulated online since November 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute shared Covid-19 prevention tips Facebook users in South Korea have shared a list of purported Covid-19 prevention tips, which they claim was issued by the “Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute”. The claims are false: the purported remedies are not proven treatments for Covid-19, according to health experts. There is no evidence the “Samsung Alternative Medicine Institute” exists. Separately, the Samsung Medical Center, an affiliate of Samsung Group, said it had not issued the purported tips. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: DC mayor is exempting from COVID-19 self-quarantine Congress members who attended John Lewis funeral Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim Washington’s mayor exempted members of Congress from a 14-day quarantine after they traveled to the funeral of civil rights icon John Lewis in Georgia, which the city considers a “high-risk” state for the coronavirus. But this is misleading, as there was no special exemption; rather, government activity is considered an essential service and the US Capitol is not covered by the mayor’s order, her office said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows former Pakistani Prime Minister meeting Israeli ambassador A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it shows former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meeting the Israeli ambassador to “sell out” Pakistan's nuclear secrets in exchange for moving his business to Israel. The claim is false; the photo has been doctored to replace the German flag with the Israeli flag; the original photo shows Sharif meeting former German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Islamabad in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: COVID-19 fits pattern of viral outbreaks every 100 years An infographic has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside a claim it shows that the 2020 novel coronavirus pandemic fits a pattern of viral outbreaks that occur every 100 years. The claim is false; the infographic contains inaccurate information about historical viral outbreaks and ignores other epidemics that do not fit the assumed pattern; health experts told AFP that while certain viruses are seasonal in nature, there is no basis for the claim that viral outbreaks occur once every century. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Russians queuing up to purchase their final McDonald’s meal A photo has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows Russians queuing to purchase their final meal at a McDonald's restaurant before the American fast-food giant closed all outlets in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Although local media reported that Russians flocked to McDonald's restaurants after the closure was announced, the photo has been shared in a false context. It was taken by an AFP photographer in January 1990 at the opening of the first McDonald's restaurant in the Soviet Union. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine report by GMA News about Philippine delivery driver being tricked into delivering severed head A purported news report which claims that a delivery driver was tricked into delivering a severed head has been shared on multiple blog pages that mimic the website of a Philippine news organisation. The claim is false: the screenshot in the purported report has been doctored from an unrelated report about delivery drivers being plagued by fake bookings. The blogs that shared the doctored image are all imposter sites. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Surveillance footage shows Tangshan attack After an assault on a group of women in the northeastern Chinese city of Tangshan sparked outrage, a graphic video of a car driving over a person surfaced in social media posts claiming it showed surveillance footage of the attack. The claim is false; the video was filmed in the southern city of Guangzhou in October 2020, more than one year before the Tangshan attack. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Saudi man accidentally buy two Airbus A350-1000s for his son’s birthday The story of Saudi man who accidentally bought two Airbus A350-1000s for his son’s birthday, instead of miniature models of the passenger jet, has been widely shared on WhatsApp and social media. The tall tale tapped into stereotypes about the vast wealth of some Saudi nationals, and prompted many social media users to jokingly wish that someone might accidentally buy them a similar birthday gift. Some social media users suggested the story was too good to be true, and they were right: it originated on a website that describes itself as satirical, and an Airbus official confirmed that it had been invented. He also talked us through the lengthy process of buying one of these enormous, expensive jets. Contrary to the story, it’s not possible to buy an A350 simply by handing over credit card details on the phone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows an explosion during coup in Beijing in 2022 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media posts that claim it shows a big explosion in China's capital Beijing in September 2022 during a supposed attempt to topple the country's president, Xi Jinping. The claim, however, is false. The video has circulated since 2015 in news reports about a deadly explosion at a chemical warehouse in the northeastern city of Tianjin. There have been no credible reports about a coup against the Chinese leader. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Moderna's CEO said the company produced 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines in 2019 Social media users claim Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told a World Economic Forum (WEF) panel that the company produced 100,000 doses of its Covid-19 vaccine in 2019, prior to the pandemic. This is false; Bancel was referring to all shots produced by the American pharmaceutical company, he confirmed to AFP, noting that its Covid-19 jab was not developed until 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New Zealand's new legislation removes right to grow food Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim New Zealand’s government passed legislation that revoked residents’ “human right to grow food”. The claim is false; the New Zealand Department of Primary Industries told AFP that “there is no legislation supporting these claims”; similar claims have circulated online since at least 2014 after New Zealand’s parliament passed a bill the same year which regulated food production. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Prophet Adam’s tomb An image has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows the tomb of Prophet Adam. The claim is false; the photo has circulated online in reports about the tomb of Prophet Imran in Oman. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a street covered with potholes in Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency Wayanad, Kerala. A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a road lined with potholes in a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala where opposition politician Rahul Gandhi has served as member of parliament since May 2019. The claim is false; this photo has circulated in reports about the north Indian state of Bihar since at least 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show Hong Kong child pepper sprayed by police Three photos of a crying child have been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts which claim the boy in the images was pepper sprayed by Hong Kong Police after being separated from his family and seeking help from officers. The photos are being used in a misleading context; the images were taken by an European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) photographer on October 27, 2019, in the district of Mong Kok and showed the aftermath of tear gas; the EPA photographer told AFP the child had not been pepper sprayed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The photo shows a drone show in Mexico on the Day of the Dead An image showing the figure of a skull in the night sky is circulating in social media posts that claim it shows a drone show in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead. The claim is false; the original photo shows Mount Fuji in Japan and it has been doctored to include the skull-shaped object. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: Bob Saget died of vaccine poisoning Social media posts claim that US comedian Bob Saget died because he had received a Covid-19 booster shot. These claims are unsubstantiated; the "Full House" star had said that he received a third dose of the vaccine, but the Florida medical examiner's office that conducted his autopsy has not released its findings, nor indicated that vaccination was responsible for his death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of woman who gave birth to 17 babies Multiple Facebook posts have shared a composite photo featuring two images, one of a heavily-pregnant woman and one of a man surrounded by babies, alongside a claim that the woman has set a new world record by giving birth to 17 boys. The claim is false; the story originated on a satirical website; one of the images has been doctored and the other image is being used out of context; the world record for most children delivered at a single birth to survive is eight, held by American “octomom” Nadya Suleman. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Prisoners in front of the US Capitol in February 2021? An image shared in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube in February 2021 purports to show prisoners walking by the US Capitol. The posts were shared weeks after Trump supporters stormed the building in Washington DC. The image has been circulated in a misleading context: it shows an Amnesty International protest in 2012 that highlighted human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows exam candidates sleeping on the ground in Uttar Pradesh A photo has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claim it shows students sleeping outside an examination centre in India's Uttar Pradesh after a major test for would-be teachers in the state was cancelled. The claim is false: the photo has circulated in news reports about an unemployment protest in Lucknow, the state's capital city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows people expressing their love for Pakistan army A video of two girls showering rose petals on a motorcade has been shared on Facebook alongside a claim that they were expressing love for the Pakistan army. The claim is false: the video has circulated in reports about two girls greeting a motorcade for the Jordanian police and military. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Export harbour destroyed during "free Zuma protests" A video of a port on fire has been shared on Facebook with the claim that it shows an export harbour that was set ablaze during recent riots in South Africa. The claim is false; the video, from September 2020, was taken in the Lebanese capital of Beirut showing a harbour fire that took place a month after a devastating explosion in a port-side storage facility that flattened sections of the city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: coronavirus cure Multiple social media posts and media reports shared hundreds of times in February 2020 claim Thailand has cured a COVID-19 patient within 48 hours using a cocktail of an anti-HIV drug and an antiviral drug used for treating influenza. The claim is misleading; Thai doctors say the cocktail of drugs did greatly improve the condition of the patient over 48 hours but did not cure them of the viral infection; the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is “no specific medicine” to prevent or treat novel coronavirus as of February 14, 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Poster urges homeless people in the US to fight in Ukraine Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, an international legion backing the Kyiv government started an advertising campaign to drum up overseas support and recruit fighters from abroad. However, a fabricated poster shared thousands of times online, allegedly targeting people on welfare in the United States, is not related to this campaign. Ukrainian authorities say the image -- which AFP found has several inconsistencies in its formatting -- is a forgery. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sinovac packaging shows vaccine is only for clinical trial Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in Indonesia claim that Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines distributed in the country's inoculation drive are unsafe as they are marked "for clinical trial" only. The claim is false; the posts show a photo of the Sinovac vaccine packaging from August 2020, when the vaccine was not yet available to the public. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani politician Maryam Nawaz Sharif's son's dance video A video has been viewed millions of times in Facebook posts claiming it shows the son of a Pakistani politician dancing to Indian music at his wedding in August 2021. The claim is false; the video shows a different wedding in August 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Ukrainian child throwing stones at Russian tank? A photo of a child throwing a stone at a tank has been shared repeatedly in Chinese-language posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Weibo alongside a claim it shows the Ukrainian resistance against Russia's invasion. This is false: the photo was taken by an AFP journalist in 2002 and actually shows a Palestinian child throwing a stone at an Israeli tank. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tanzanian president and co-wives at a family meeting with their husband Facebook posts claiming to show Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan with her co-wives during a meeting convened by their husband have been shared multiple times in Kenya. The claim is false: the picture features Hassan during the memorial of Zanzibar’s first president Abeid Amani Karume, and the women seated next to her are not her co-wives. AFP Fact Check was able to identify two of the three women as senior government representatives of Zanzibar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Musician Zola 7 is dead Social media posts claim that South African kwaito musician Bonginkosi “Zola 7” Dlamini has died. This is false: the music star is alive and responded to the rumours in a video interview. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Volunteer at Tokyo Olympics to be awarded with medals An Indian sportsman has shared a photo on Facebook and Twitter of a medal purportedly inscribed with the word "volunteer" in various languages, including Hindi. The image, which was also shared by other Facebook users, was posted alongside a claim it would be handed to volunteers at the Tokyo Olympics. The claim is false: a Tokyo 2020 spokesman said it had not issued the medal. The Games' official website makes no mention of medals in a list of items given to volunteers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Japanese energy minister bowing to apologise for 20-minute power cut A photo of a man bowing in front of journalists was shared by Facebook users in Myanmar alongside a claim that it shows Japan's energy minister apologising to the public for a 20-minute power outage in the country. The posts circulate as blackouts continue to plague the Southeast Asian country. However, the claim is false; the photo in fact shows Takahiro Hachigo, then CEO of Japanese carmaker Honda Motor, holding his first press conference in 2015 after assuming the top job. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kamala Harris opposes the right to own a gun An article and Facebook post claim Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris opposes the right to own a gun and has plans with running mate Joe Biden to “dismantle” the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. These claims are false; although Harris supports gun safety laws, she says these can co-exist with the Second Amendment, and she is not against gun ownership. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

This Image Was Taken During A Protest Five Years Ago, Not At A Recent Rally: Images show reporter beaten by Ugandan police during Bobi Wine rally Posts claiming to show a Ugandan journalist brutally beaten by police officers during a recent political rally by pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine have been shared multiple times on Facebook. The claim is misleading; the picture of injured journalist Isaac Kugonza was taken five years ago during a protest. Kugonza told AFP Fact Check that he was scarred for life. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC has warned of AFM outbreak in 2021 An article shared hundreds of times on social media claims that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned of an expected outbreak of a polio-like illness in 2021, with some social media users suggesting this is an attempt to cover up adverse reactions to vaccines. This is false: the CDC's alert was from 2020 and it has issued no such warning in 2021. Furthermore, there is no link between that illness and Covid-19 vaccination, the public health agency told AFP, while data shows that Covid-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine news report about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte surviving ambush in December 2020 A video has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube and shared in multiple Facebook and blog posts that claim it shows Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte survived an "ambush" in December 2020. The claim is false; the video shows unrelated clips, including an old Duterte speech. In response to the social media posts, the Philippine military refuted the false claim. There have been no credible reports from official media organisations that Duterte survived an attempted ambush in December 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A flooded classroom in Kenya, Ghana or Cameroon? A video of students seated in a flooded classroom with a dilapidated roof, hardly protecting them from the heavy downpour, has been shared in numerous African countries in social media posts decrying the state of local educational facilities. Some web users claimed the school was in Kenya or Ghana; others in Cameroon, Togo or Tanzania. But a tip-off from comments on a Nigerian celebrity’s Instagram account allowed us to show that the video was actually filmed at a school in Delta State, southern Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines cause virus mutations and lead to more deaths Social media users in Sri Lanka have shared a video featuring an indigenous medicine practitioner who claims Covid-19 vaccinations cause an increase in coronavirus variants and kill more people. But these claims are false. Experts told AFP viruses mutate "independent of the vaccine", and approved Covid-19 vaccines prevent severe disease and death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s home city Davao is clean A post that has been shared more than 1,500 times on Facebook contains photos claiming to show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s home city of Davao as “clean”. A reverse search and a check of Google maps reveals that the photos, however, show another city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian leader’s animal shadow An image of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi casting the shadow in the shape of a donkey has been shared on Facebook in Africa alongside comments criticising his leadership. However, AFP Fact Check found the photo to have been digitally altered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian army accuses governor of bribe attempt A video is circulating on social media in Nigeria with claims that it shows the Nigerian army accusing Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state in the country’s south, of trying to bribe military personnel, implying that this took place amid the 2023 general elections. But the claim is misleading: the video is unrelated to the recent elections. It was filmed in 2019 and shows the spokesman for the army’s 6th Division accusing Wike of attempted bribery during that year’s election in Rivers state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UN issues organ trafficking alert A purported alert from the United Nations about the killing of migrant workers in the Middle East for organ harvesting has been shared on Facebook and Twitter hundreds of times. The posts also warns people about fake agencies who offer employment abroad but kill the victims and remove their organs. The claim is false: the purported alert is fabricated and the UN denied ever issuing any such alert. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: “People are dying who have never died before” Facebook posts claim that US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: “People are dying who have never died before.” But a spokesman for the Georgia conservative rejected the attribution, and letters from Ernest Hemingway show the phrase can be traced to the famed US author. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Aryan Khan publicly urinating at US airport Footage of a man urinating at an airport terminal has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim he is Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. The video surfaced after Aryan was arrested in a drugs bust in October. The claim is false; the footage circulated in reports from 2013 that name the man as "Twilight" star Bronson Pelletier. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Photo shows Taliban negotiator crediting Mao Zedong book for victory A photo appearing to show a Taliban official holding up a Mao Zedong book at a press conference has been shared hundreds of times on social media platforms, alongside a claim it shows the Taliban giving credit to the Chinese communist's book for their military victory. The claim is satirical: the photo has been doctored to include the book. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Malaysia is included in the US Visa Waiver Program A web page that resembles an online news report claims that Malaysia, along with nine other countries, has been added to the US Visa Waiver Program. The claim is false; Malaysians still need to apply for a visa to visit the United States; the Malaysian foreign affairs ministry said the information in the report was “incorrect”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of crying girl amid Myanmar air strikes in 2021 A photo of a distraught girl has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it was taken in Myanmar as the military launched air strikes on villages in southern Kayin state. The claim is false: the photo was taken in Cambodia in 2007 by photographer John Brown. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australia Day is commemorated on the day when Australian citizenship law passed Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times misleadingly claim Australia Day, the country’s national day, commemorates the recognition of Australian citizenship, not the arrival of the British fleet in the country in 1788. The claim is misleading; according to historians and Australian government websites, the event was celebrated prior to the introduction of the Australian citizenship law in 1949. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Chimp adenovirus in AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine causes monkeypox Social media posts shared worldwide claim that recent cases of monkeypox outside of countries where it is endemic are a "side effect" of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, which uses a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus vector that has been altered so it does not infect humans or replicate. This is misleading; health experts told AFP the virus that causes monkeypox is different from AstraZeneca's adenovirus vector, which does not cause disease in humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Pfizer Vax Ingredient ALC-0315 Is 'Not for Human Use' An article and social media posts claim an ingredient in Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is not safe for humans, citing a data sheet from a US chemical corporation. This is misleading; the company says it does not manufacture the compound in the shot -- and the document pertains to research-grade chemicals, which health experts say do not undergo the same strict regulatory approval process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The US has reached herd immunity for COVID-19 A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims the United States has reached herd immunity for COVID-19. But experts say this is false, and that the country is far from the point where enough people have the immunity necessary to curb the disease’s spread. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Burj Khalifa lit up with Sri Lankan flag after cricket victory A photo of the Burj Khalifa lit up with the colours of Sri Lanka's national flag was shared thousands of times by Facebook posts saying it showed the world's tallest building celebrating the island's victory in the Asia Cup cricket series in September 2022. In fact, the photo was taken in April 2019, when the flag was projected onto Dubai's iconic skyscraper following the Easter Sunday bombings that rocked Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Mermaid found in South Africa A viral video on TikTok features an extract from a morning show on South Africa’s national television promoting a broadcast purportedly confirming the existence of mermaids. While some users expressed their disbelief at the footage, others took it at face value. But the claim is false: AFP Fact Check found that the morning show segment was part of an April Fool’s Day joke in 2014 and incorporated a fake documentary created by Animal Planet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bodies of dead novel coronavirus patients in Russia A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows 200 bodies of dead novel coronavirus victims being lowered into a garbage truck in Russia. The claim is false; the clip shows the filming of a rap music video in the Russian capital of Moscow. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei's statue torched during 2022 protests A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows Iranian protesters setting a statue of their country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on fire. The post surfaced amid ongoing protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 when she was in police custody. However, the claim is false; the statue that was torched was in fact one of the late Iranian cleric and politician Morteza Motahhari in the northeastern city of Mashhad in September 2022. An expert on Iranian politics told AFP that there are no statues of Khamenei in Iran. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows bodies of Covid victims in China As China faced a wave of Covid-19 infections after its abrupt dropping of harsh anti-pandemic restrictions in December 2022, a photo showing bodies being buried in a mass grave was shared hundreds of times in Chinese-language tweets that misleadingly suggested it was taken in the country. The photo was in fact taken by an AFP photographer in Thailand in December 2004 and shows rescue workers burying victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed approximately 220,000 people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani soldiers guarding their border with India at the Siachen glacier A photo of three soldiers in a frozen river has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts that claim that it shows Pakistani soldiers defending their country at the Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, on the border with India. The claim is false: this photo is actually a 2015 Associated Press image that shows South Korean army soldiers at a winter exercise in northeast Pyeongchang county. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Newspaper article on Sri Lankan opposition party leader's economy pledge An image appearing to show a Sinhala-language newspaper article about a Sri Lankan opposition leader pledging to fix the island nation's dwindling economy "within 100 days" of coming to power has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. The image, however, has been doctored. The newspaper told AFP it did not publish the purported article, and an analysis of the politician's remarks from the day before the supposed publication date found he did not make the alleged pledge. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixed: Toilet paper truck crashed after hijacking in Lithgow, Australia Two images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim they show a truck carrying toilet paper which crashed in the Australian city of Lithgow following a hijacking. The posts were shared in March 2020 after panic buying of toilet rolls in Australia was sparked by the novel coronavirus epidemic. The claim in the posts is misleading; the images show a road accident in Australia in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: California allows personal belief exemption for newly mandated immunizations Social media posts linked to a California anti-vaccine group claim that a state bill allows for a personal belief exemption to new vaccine mandates for children. This is false; the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the office of the state senator who sponsored the bill confirmed that since 2015 the most populous state in the US only recognizes medical exemptions to vaccination requirements. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Demodex mite that lives on human face An image of an animal has circulated in multiple social media posts alongside a claim that it shows a mite called Demodex that lives on the human face. However, the claim is false; the picture shows a silkworm caterpillar seen under an electron microscope. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows LPG pipeline being constructed in India As millions of Indians headed to the polls in Uttar Pradesh elections, Facebook posts purported to show a photo of construction of a gas pipeline in the state. The image has been shared in a misleading context; it was taken in 2010 and shows a pipeline in Germany. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan indigenous medicine claims to cure coronavirus pneumonia As Sri Lanka faces a surge in Covid-19 cases, multiple Facebook posts claim that an indigenous medication has been discovered in a southern village as a ‘cure’ for Covid-19 induced pneumonia, alongside images purported to show crowds already thronging to the area to obtain the medicine. The claims are false: both international and indigenous health experts said there was no scientific basis for the purported medicine as effective Covid-19 cure and they warn the public against falling prey to such fraudulent claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Covid-19 deaths mostly in vaccinated Social media posts shared hundreds of times claim it is "insane" that authorities in Australia are still encouraging Covid-19 vaccination given more vaccinated people than unvaccinated people died from the disease in the state of New South Wales on April 15, 2022. Although the posts shared genuine data from a single day in April, health experts told AFP vaccination is still critical to reducing the overall rate of death and severe illness from Covid-19. All of the deaths mentioned in the post were in people aged 60 or above, who experts said were at an increased risk of death from the disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Thailand has “ranked no. 1 in the COVID-19 fight category” based on an international health security and preparedness index Multiple Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times claim that Thailand has “ranked no. 1 in the COVID-19 fight category” based on an international health security index. The posts add Thailand has the "lowest number of infected cases at present". The claims, however, are misleading; the index cited in the posts, the Global Health Security (GHS) Index, was published months before the COVID-19 pandemic; Thailand also does not have the lowest number of COVID-19 infections in Asia or worldwide, according to multiple international authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows woman assaulted in suburban Sri Lanka A photo purporting to show a Muslim woman attacked by her community for marrying a Sinhalese man in Sri Lanka has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The claim is misleading; the image shows an incident that occurred in India in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Myanmar military hit by a roadside mine in December 2021 An image has been shared dozens of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows the Myanmar military attacked by a roadside mine in December 2021. However, the claim is false; the picture has appeared in 2013 reports about a bomb attack in southern Thailand, which killed eight Thai soldiers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian opposition leader acquitted after money laundering trial Nigerian opposition leader Doyin Okupe was sentenced to two years in jail in December 2022 for violating the country’s anti-money laundering laws. However, a Facebook post claimed that Okupe, who led the presidential campaign team for the opposition Labour Party, was found not guilty. The claim is partly false: while a court cleared Okupe of 34 charges of financial misconduct, he was found guilty of 26 more and paid a 13 million naira (about $29,000) fine to avoid jail. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows a Myanmar demonstration in January 2021 that was organised to protest against alleged political interference by Facebook A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple social media posts alongside a claim it shows a demonstration against Facebook in Myanmar held in January 2021 over alleged political interference by the platform. The claim is false; the photo in fact shows a protest against Facebook in Myanmar in October 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: Two former South Korean presidents are protesting an expressway project A photo that purports to show two former South Korean presidents protesting against the construction of an expressway in the 1960s has been widely shared on Facebook. The photo, however, has been doctored. The original photo, taken by a news organisation in 2007, shows villagers protesting against the expansion of a landfill in rural South Korea. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows scene from ferry accident in Sri Lanka After six children were killed in a ferry accident in Sri Lanka in November, a video circulated in Facebook and TikTok posts claiming it showed a boy rescued from the capsized vessel. The claim is false; the clip has circulated in posts about a boy who fell from a boat in Bangladesh since at least August. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo of Philippine politician Mar Roxas drinking from a plate A photo of Philippine politician Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas purportedly drinking water from a plate has been viewed or shared millions of times online since 2015, and has been used by a rival to mock him ahead of 2019 elections . The photo is not genuine; it is a manipulated version of an original in which there is no plate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show snakes found at a farm in Myanmar Three photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that they show snakes at a farm in a Myanmar village. The posts, which urge Facebook users to share the photos, go on to claim that the couple who discovered the snakes won the Myanmar state lottery soon afterwards. The claim is false; these photos have circulated online since 2014 in reports about a snake farm in Vietnam. AFP found that the village cited in the misleading posts does not exist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US to recall dollar notes issued before 2021 'Be wary of scams' (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Indian police clash with protesters in Bangalore A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows clashes between police and armed protesters in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. The claim is false; the video actually shows police clashing with protesters in West Bengal state, in eastern India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Images of Hindu idols destroyed for not protecting Indian people during the Covid-19 pandemic Images of Hindu idols have been shared in Facebook posts that claim the statues were destroyed after the gods failed to protect India from Covid-19. This claim is false: the images predate the Covid-19 pandemic; they have previously circulated in online posts about unrelated Hindu festivals. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sajith Premadasa and SJB plans to join Ranil Wickremesinghe's government. An image of Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has been shared repeatedly online alongside a misleading claim that he announced he and his party would join forces with the ruling United National Party (UNP) led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. A spokesperson for Premadasa's Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party told AFP the claim was false. The picture shared in the misleading posts was taken from a video of a 2020 press conference when Premadasa founded the SJB and asked his former colleague Wickremesinghe to join his party. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Mount Semeru's eruption in December 2021 A video has been viewed millions of times on social media alongside a claim it shows volcanic activity at Indonesia's Mount Semeru in December 2021 — an eruption that has killed dozens of people. The claim is false. The video has circulated months before the Semeru eruption. The clip has been created digitally from an image of a volcano in Chile and a picture of a waterfall in Indonesia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Mark Zuckerberg inspecting cattle at his ranch An image showing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg standing next to a herd of black cattle has been shared multiple times on social media alongside a caption that Zuckerberg is “enjoying at his ranch”. However, the claim that ranch belongs to him is false; Zuckerberg originally posted the photo on Facebook in 2017 during a visit to a ranch belonging to a family in South Dakota. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bill Gates purchases Telegram messaging app A screenshot of a purported news report claiming Bill Gates has purchased the encrypted messaging app Telegram has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts in April 2021. The claim is false: Telegram and the Gates Foundation separately denied the claim on April 9, 2021. The screenshot shared in the social media posts has been doctored. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Iranian missile attack on US bases in Iraq A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows Iranian missiles targeting US military bases in Iraq. The claim is false; the video is a compilation of two earlier events from other countries -- a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Ashkelon in 2018 and an explosion in the Chinese city of Tianjin in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippines adopts new law requires students to plant trees before they graduate Media reports which have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook claim that a new law has been adopted in the Philippines requiring students to plant at least 10 trees before they graduate. The reports are misleading; the student tree planting legislation has been passed by the Philippines’ lower house but not by the Senate; according to the country’s constitution, both houses must approve legislation and send it to the president for signing before it actually becomes law. The bill's author told AFP he did not believe the measure would become law before the Senate adjourns June 7, 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US military helicopter shot down over Iraqi-Syrian border in 2020 A photo of a crashed helicopter has been shared in a Facebook post alongside a claim that a US helicopter was shot down over the Iraqi-Syrian border in January 2020. The claim adds that four Americans and a pilot were killed. However, the claim is false and the photo is being used out of context. The photo has circulated since 2003 in reports about a US army helicopter crash in Iraq; the US government also said there were no US casualties in Iraq after a recent missile attack on two military facilities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows the volcano eruption in Tonga in 2022 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it is live footage of a volcano eruption in Tonga that triggered a tsunami in January 2022. The claim is false: the footage is actually a simulation of a volcanic eruption. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: The husband of New Zealand opposition leader Judith Collins works for Oravida dairy/water company, which is why she opposes the 2020 resource management bill -- MISLEADING. Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in 2020 claim New Zealand opposition leader Judith Collins is opposed to new environmental legislation because of her connection to Oravida, a local water and dairy company that exports produce to China. The claim, however, omits important context; Collins’ husband, businessman David Wong-Tung, left Oravida in 2017, according to a spokesperson from Collins’ office and the New Zealand Companies register; Collins has said she would repeal the act cited in the posts and replace it with two new pieces of law if she wins in this October’s election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows rainclouds over Incheon in August 2022 After record-breaking downpours caused flooding in several parts of South Korea in August 2022, a video was viewed thousands of times on YouTube and in Facebook posts that claimed it showed the coastal city of Incheon being drenched by huge rain clouds. The video, however, has been shared in a false context. It has circulated since February 2020, and shows a time-lapse of a storm front as it rolled over the Australian city of Perth. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bomb explodes as Uganda buries military commander Posts claiming that a bomb exploded in a Ugandan town ahead of a state funeral for well-known military commander Paul Lokech have been circulating on Facebook alongside an image of a field on fire. But the claim is false: the photo used in the posts is an old Shutterstock image and the purported explosion was later revealed to be a thwarted bomb plot. An AFP correspondent who attended the burial confirmed there was no explosion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Cuban President announced his resignation on July 17, 2021. After thousands of Cubans marched in anti-government protests, Chinese-language social media posts claimed that President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced he would resign in a televised broadcast on July 17. The claim is false: Diaz-Canel criticised what he said was a "false narrative" of the unrest, but did not say he would step down. As of July 26, 2021, he was still serving as Cuba's president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Egypt pyramids light up in support of Palestine Images of Egypt's Pyramids of Giza lit with the colours of the Palestinian flag have been shared thousands of times on social media alongside claims that this was done as a tribute to Palestine. The photos appeared as fresh violence erupted between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Gaza strip. But the claim is false: the picture is old and has been edited. Egyptian authorities also denied there was such a display of support on the pyramids. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Animal testings was skipped for Covid-19 vaccines, all the animals died Social media posts claim that pharmaceutical companies “skipped” animal trials while developing Covid-19 vaccines because the subjects kept dying. This is false; the three vaccines authorized for emergency use by US regulators went through animal testing, and research organizations and a biologist said the trials did not reveal safety issues. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Platform ticket priced hiked after Indian industrialist Gautam Adani acquired Pune Railway Station. An image of a platform train ticket has been widely circulated on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows a hiked price that was raised after the railway station was acquired by Indian industrial company Adani Group. The claim is false; the price increase was due to Covid-19 restrictions, railway officials said, and the image has been digitally altered to insert Adani Group branding. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of a COVID-19 patient nearly buried alive in Kenya? A video viewed thousands of times claims to show a Covid-19 patient in a Kenyan village who was “nearly buried alive” during his own funeral. The claim is false; county officials confirmed to AFP Fact Check that while the video was indeed taken during a burial ceremony, the man seen lying on the ground wearing protective gear had fainted and is a relative of the deceased. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Ethiopian army vehicles A video showing various military vehicles has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside the claim that they belong to the Ethiopian army. This is false: while the Ethiopian army did recently acquire new military trucks, the video was actually filmed in Germany, a German army spokesman confirmed. Furthermore, the video was shared on a Facebook account impersonating the state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Manny Pacquiao disqualified from participating in 2022 elections A video that claims Filipino boxing champion turned politician Manny Pacquiao has been disqualified in the 2022 presidential election has been viewed tens of thousands of times online in March 2021. The claim is false: the Philippine Commission on Elections told AFP he has not been disqualified because the filing of candidacies for the vote hasn’t even started yet. The video also misrepresents a social media post accusing Pacquiao of violating election rules. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a queue at the Covid-19 makeshift hospital at Jakarta's Athletes Village A video has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts, along with a claim that it shows a long queue of people to enter a Covid-19 makeshift hospital in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. The claim is false; the video actually shows a queue at a Covid-19 care centre in Malaysia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Megawati Sukarnoputri acknowledges Prabowo Subianto's victory in Indonesia's election An image that has been shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show Indonesian politician Megawati Sukarnoputri -- an ally of incumbent President Joko Widodo -- acknowledging that opposition candidate Prabowo Subianto had won April 17, 2019, elections. The claim is false; the image is a doctored screenshot of a TV news program in which Sukarnoputri praises parts of a speech Prabowo gave after the vote. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo claims to show Delhi-Mumbai expressway Multiple Facebook posts have shared a photo of a highway alongside a claim it shows the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which is currently under construction in India. The claim is false: the photo actually depicts the Yamuna Expressway, the third longest in India, which was inaugurated in 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australian doctor told news programme that Queen Elizabeth II should use ivermectin to treat Covid-19 A video has been viewed more than two million times in posts that claim a doctor on an Australian TV programme endorsed deworming drug stromectol — which contains ivermectin — to treat Queen Elizabeth II after she tested positive for Covid-19. However, the Australian network that broadcast the programme said it had mistakenly referenced stromectol in the report. The doctor who was interviewed on the programme issued a clarification on Twitter that he had not endorsed stromectol as a Covid-19 treatment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows former South Korean president in Japanese military uniform A photo has circulated on social media in South Korea purporting to show the country's former president Park Chung-hee dressed in Japanese military uniform during Japan's occupation of Korea. The photo, however, has been doctored; Park’s image has been digitally inserted onto a photo that online posts say shows a Japanese military officer during World War II. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show US soldiers arriving in Myanmar on the 8888 Uprising Memorial Day Seven pictures have been shared in multiple posts on Facebook, YouTube and blog sites alongside a claim that they show US soldiers arriving in Myanmar on the 8888 Uprising Memorial Day on August 8, 2021. The claim is false. The pictures in fact show US soldiers taking part in a joint military exercise in Indonesia in August 2021. AFP found no credible reports that US troops have arrived in Myanmar. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Montreal Freedom Rally Facebook posts claim a photo shows protesters filling several blocks at a 2021 rally in Montreal to oppose Covid-19 restrictions. This is false; the image was taken in the US capital Washington at a 2018 march against gun violence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows participants in Sewol ferry hunger strike secretly eating noodles Social media posts criticising a group of South Korean families who went on hunger strike to push for an inquiry into a ferry disaster in 2014 are sharing a photo they falsely claim shows a campaigner secretly tucking into a bowl of noodles. The picture was actually taken at a demonstration by a civic group in which participants feasted on junk food to mock the hunger strike by families, whom they accused of seeking to bring down the government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Army soldiers torture Muslim women in Indian-administered Kashmir A video has been viewed more than half a million times in multiple Facebook posts published in September 2019 alongside a claim that it shows Indian soldiers torturing Muslim women in Indian-administered Kashmir. The claim is false; the video shows a Pakistani police officer hitting several women outside a court in Multan, Pakistan, in June 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Afghanistan president taking smokeless tobacco during a conference An image purporting to show former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai taking smokeless tobacco during a conference has sparked anger against him online for an apparent lack of respect. The image, however, has been edited; the original photo shows Karzai extending his hand to receive hand sanitiser. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of an orphan who lost her mother A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that it shows a young orphan girl who has lost her mother in a war. The claim is false; the Iranian artist who took the photo in 2012 says the girl is her cousin and there is no tragic story behind it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Take Apetamin to gain weight Social media users wanting to put on pounds fast tout cyproheptadine as a "miracle drug." This is misleading advice; in many countries the antihistamine is only approved to relieve allergies and while taking the medicine can cause weight gain, experts warned this could have serious side effects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Citizens of Hungary 'live freely' despite Covid-19 unlike in Sri Lanka Multiple Facebook posts shared repeatedly in June 2021 have compared the pandemic restrictions in Sri Lanka with Hungary. The posts, which shared an image of Hungarian football fans attending a Euro 2020 match in Budapest, criticised Sri Lanka's strict lockdown. The posts are misleading: as of June 28, 2021, almost half of Hungary's population had received a Covid-19 vaccine, compared to less than five percent of people in Sri Lanka. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Only South Korean nationals can vote in its presidential election Facebook posts shared repeatedly ahead of the upcoming South Korean presidential election claim the country's election commission published its voting guide pamphlet "only in [Mandarin] Chinese" for non-Korean speakers. The posts go on to claim that "Chinese people have nothing to do with the election". These claims are misleading; all foreign nationals who have obtained South Korean citizenship can vote in the country's presidential election. AFP found the commission also published a Vietnamese and English-language version of the same pamphlet for naturalised citizens who do not read Korean. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Afghan woman pilot stoned to death Two photos have been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim they show an Afghan pilot who was "stoned to death" by the Taliban. The posts circulated online after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The claim is false: the first image shows an Afghan pilot at a military airbase in Kabul in 2016, while the second image has circulated online since 2015 in reports about the killing of a different woman. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Clip shows a Ukrainian soldier going to war in 2022 Social media posts claim a video featuring a man in military uniform tearfully embracing a woman and a baby depicts a Ukrainian soldier heading to war. But the clip shows the 2018 homecoming of an American Marine who met his son for the first time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Muslim protesters march to Jakarta after re-election of Indonesia's president A video has been viewed tens of thousands times in a Facebook post alongside a claim it shows a Muslim group marching to Jakarta to attend a protest following the re-election of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on May 21, 2019. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online since at least November 2016 in reports about a different protest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: “AstraZeneca” means “weapon that kills” in various languages Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim AstraZeneca, the name of a British-Swedish drugmaker, means "weapon that kills" in a combination of three languages. The posts circulated online after millions of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines were administered to people around the world. The claim is misleading: the name "AstraZeneca" was created from the names of two other companies. "Astra" derives from the Greek word "astron", meaning "star", while "Zeneca" refers to "Zeneca Group", a British company whose name was invented by a branding agency. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Video shows trains running in Japan Facebook and Twitter users in Pakistan have shared a video alongside a claim it shows a "journey by train in Japan". But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it shows models of Amtrak trains operating in the US -- not in Japan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Outdated Guidance: Manitoba said masks will not prevent spread of Covid-19 Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in Manitoba claim that the official guidance from Canada’s central province on mask-wearing states it is ineffective at preventing illnesses like the novel coronavirus. The posts feature an image of a document from February 2020 and do not reflect the provincial health department's current advice on wearing masks to help slow the spread of Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Sri Lankan parliamentarians buying subsidised fuel A photo of a vehicle attached to a tanker refuelling at a gas station has been shared thousands of times alongside the claim it shows Sri Lanka parliamentarians buying subsidised petrol after prices surged this year. But the image was shared with false context: the photo was taken in the Philippines and it was first shared in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: NATO train ferrying armoured vehicles and military cargo to war in Ukraine A video of a long train transporting military vehicles has been shared on Facebook alongside a claim that the footage shows the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) sending tanks and equipment to Ukraine in support of its war against Russia. But this is false; the video has been circulating online since at least 2012 and shows a Canadian train operating in North America. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Joe Biden said Donald Trump was still US president in speech A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows US President Joe Biden admitting his predecessor Donald Trump was "still president". But the clip had been misleadingly edited. It was taken from a longer video which shows Biden making the remark as part of a joke about Republicans disputing his 2020 election victory over Trump. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Billie Eilish cried because she wanted to be poor Social media users mocked Billie Eilish after posts shared an apparent People magazine article that claimed that the American singer cried because she wanted to be poor so she could connect with her fans. But the celebrity-focused weekly confirmed the article is fake, as did Eilish's brother. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Wearing face masks carries health risks An image of a flyer shared thousands of times on social media during the coronavirus pandemic lists a series of alleged risks of face mask use as well as rights for those who refuse to do so. But medical experts and government guidelines indicate that the risks in the flyer are misleading, though the rights stated are broadly accurate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dr. Josephine Rojo promotes a cereal and mixed nuts brand for weight loss Photos that appear to show a Filipino doctor endorsing brands of cereals and mixed nuts have been repeatedly shared in Facebook posts that claim the snacks are effective for weight loss. But the posts are a "scam" according to the doctor, whose photo has been doctored to make it seem as though she endorsed the products. A Filipino nutrition expert told AFP that people hoping to lose weight should adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle rather than consuming specific products. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Most people vaccinated against Covid-19 with mRNA shots will experience blood clots A Canadian physician claims in a video clip shared on social media that most people who receive widely-used Covid-19 vaccines will experience blood clots. But experts say his conclusion stems from an analysis that was not published in accordance with scientific method, was not peer-reviewed, and does not prove the shots are causing clots. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Seawater is salty because of sperm from blue whales' ejaculation Multiple social media posts circulating online since at least 2009 claim seawater is salty because of sperm ejaculated by blue whales. The claim is false. The ocean's salinity — the concentration of salt in seawater — is mainly caused by mineral ions that have dissolved in rainwater. Other causes of salinity include hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor and eruption of underwater volcanoes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Magazine cover declaring Greta Thunberg to be one of the world’s highest-paid activists. An image which purports to show teenage climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg topping a magazine list of the world’s highest-paid activists has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter. But the claim is false; the purported magazine cover actually originated on a parody website; a spokesperson for Greta Thunberg told AFP she does not receive payment for her appearances or media engagements. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Survival rate for Covid-19 is same for vaccinated and unvaccinated Social media posts downplay the protection provided by Covid-19 vaccines, saying survival rates are the same whether people receive the shots or not. This is misleading; health authorities say that more than 99 percent of people who have recently died of Covid-19 in the United States have not been vaccinated against the disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ancient Ayurveda medicine recipe to treat COVID-19 A photo of a prescription for an ancient herbal drink has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and WhatsApp alongside a claim that it is an effective remedy for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The prescription was purportedly written and shared by an Ayurveda doctor in Sri Lanka. The claim is misleading; medical experts advise against using herbal remedies to treat the coronavirus, and urge those experiencing symptoms to seek professional medical assistance. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Recently Fully Vaccinated Priest Dies on Live Stream A video of a priest collapsing during a service has spread online alongside the claim that he died following vaccination against Covid-19. But Father Ángel Cuevas did not die, and an AFP journalist met with him in Mexico's Acapulco more than two months after he fainted in an episode he said was unrelated to vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Eiffel Tower in Paris being bombed by Russia A video that appears to show explosions in the French capital of Paris has been viewed thousands of times in misleading social media posts that claim it shows a real attack on the Eiffel Tower. The posts suggest the attack was carried out by Russian forces in response to sanctions from foreign powers following its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. The footage, however, has been shared in a false context: it shows a fictional film created by a French director that was then shared online by Ukrainian officials in a bid to urge European authorities to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Tunisia’s Club Africain CEO An image of a man at a desk with an automatic rifle has been shared on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows the CEO of Tunisia’s football team Club Africain talking to a journalist. But this is false: AFP Fact Check found that the picture is an old and unrelated photograph of an unidentified man in Afghanistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Attempted child abduction at SA mall An old South African video of a man running from mall security with a child in his arms has resurfaced on Facebook with tens of thousands of shares alongside claims that he stole the child. However, the claim is false: police have confirmed the man was not arrested for kidnapping but shoplifting at a mall in Cape Town in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows flying trains in China A video purporting to show trains flying over China has been shared on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The claim is false; the video in fact shows computer generated imagery created by a simulation platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: These ten tips help prevent coronavirus Social media posts shared thousands of times advocate 10 methods to prevent a novel coronavirus infection, citing recommendations allegedly stemming from autopsies on COVID-19 victims, including in China, where the virus first emerged. The advice is misleading; experts say the list includes half-truths and outright falsehoods. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Steaming face masks makes them reusable during coronavirus outbreak A video of a purported doctor advising people to steam disposable surgical face masks in order to reuse them has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Chinese-language posts on Facebook, Weibo and Youku in January 2020. The posts were shared as China announced more than 20,000 people have been infected with a new strain of novel coronavirus, killing at least 425 people. The claim in the posts is misleading; health experts advise against steaming surgical masks, as it can damage them; they also warn against reusing masks as harmful bacteria and viruses can remain on their surface. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Agenda 2030 allows the government to force people into "15-minute cities" Videos shared across social media claim a United Nations agreement will enable governments to seize land and force residents into "15-minute smart cities" where their consumption and movement will be restricted. This is a false interpretation of the global body's voluntary sustainability goals, and urban designs in the US and Canada will not forcibly move people or limit travel. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: Kamala Harris said that virtually all patients hospitalized for Covid-19 are vaccinated Tweets feature a video of US Vice President Kamala Harris appearing to say that almost all hospitalized Covid-19 patients are vaccinated against the disease. But the official White House footage and transcript of her remarks, as well as media coverage of the event at which she spoke, show that she said "unvaccinated," not "vaccinated." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan named a corruption suspect in early 2023 A false claim that Indonesia's anti-graft agency has officially declared former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan a suspect in two high-profile corruption cases has circulated in videos posted on Facebook and YouTube, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. As of February 14, 2022, Indonesia's anti-graft agency had not named a suspect in both corruption cases and a representative for the agency told AFP investigations on the merit of the cases were ongoing. Videos in the posts feature a doctored image and use clips unrelated to the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows fire in Dhaka factory in June 2022 Soon after a massive fire tore through a container depot in southern Bangladesh on June 5, 2022 and killed more than 40 people, a video was viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a fire in the capital Dhaka on the following day. However, the clip of a burning building has been shared in a misleading context; while there was a fire in a Dhaka factory, it took place more than a month earlier than purported, on April 15, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rally for political party chaired by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter A Facebook post has shared a photo it claims shows a rally held by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a political party led by Sara Duterte, daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The claim is false; the photo is a Getty Images photo of a 2018 rally for gun reform in Washington D.C. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: [Four fake images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show members of a Myanmar rebel group, Arakan Army (AA), being captured. ] Four images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show members of a Myanmar rebel group, the Arakan Army (AA), being captured. The claim is false; the images shows screenshots from a video of a Colombian military raid in April 2020 on members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a Colombian guerrilla group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jessica Leung was injured at the Prince Edward vigil in Hong Kong in August 2020 An image has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook and Weibo posts that claim it shows pro-democracy politician Jessica Leung "pretending to be pregnant" as she's pushed to the ground by Hong Kong police at a vigil in August. The claims are misleading: Leung told AFP she was neither pregnant nor the woman pictured in the image. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: East Palestine, Ohio train derailment alters chemical make-up of snow Social media posts claim snow in Canada is being contaminated with toxic chemicals from a derailment in the US state of Ohio, with some using videos of blackened snowballs that fail to melt when exposed to a lighter flame as evidence. This is false; the Canadian government said it found no impact north of the border from the rail accident and experiments showed the discoloration is from the butane in the lighter. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows daughters of Joe Biden and President Xi performing together? A video of two women performing together on stage has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they are the daughters of US president-elect Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The claim is false; the video actually shows a performance by a Chinese musician and a Ukrainian singer on a Chinese television show. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Officer manhandling people in a car in Pakistan in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows a police officer manhandling a couple in Pakistan. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it has circulated in reports since 2018. Local police said the video shows an incident in 2018 for which an officer was "punished". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chelsea Clinton calls for forced mRNA vaccination Social media posts claim Chelsea Clinton has called for forced messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination for American children. This is false; the former US president's daughter endorsed an effort to boost routine childhood immunization in 20 developing countries, an initiative that does not involve mandatory jabs or Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Genuine CCTV footage of thieves foiling armed robber. A video has been viewed millions of times on social media platforms alongside a claim it shows two thieves foiling an armed robber's attempt to raid a convenience store. The claim is false: the footage is actually an advert for a 2018 US teen drama web series. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Road sign with anti-Muslim message at the India-Pakistan border An image has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim it shows a road sign with an Islamophobic message displayed at the border of India and Pakistan. The claim is false: the image has been fabricated. The original photo shows a road sign warning against illegal firearms at the US-Mexico border. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Using a Sharpie when voting can invalidate a ballot The claim that ballots marked with Sharpies will be invalidated has been debunked repeatedly since the 2020 US election, but videos targeting midterm voters claim machines in Pennsylvania will not be able to process marks from the felt-tip pens. This is false; election officials and a cybersecurity expert said the votes will be accurately recorded -- and if they result in adjudication, that process is not associated with fraud. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The coronavirus pandemic is a cover for a Gates Foundation-funded microchip conspiracy Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim the coronavirus pandemic is a cover for a Gates Foundation-funded effort to implant microchips when patients’ noses or throats are swabbed during COVID-19 testing. This is false; the pandemic is real, the foundation denied the claim, and experts say there is a medical reason for the way swabs are used when testing for the disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CTV reported that Ottawa police seized ice cream trucks Social media posts claim CTV News reported Ottawa police seized ice cream trucks as part of the response to protests on Canada Day, sharing an image of the purported article as proof. But officials from Canada's capital said no ice cream trucks were seized, and the news organization confirmed it did not publish the story. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of Nigerian police arresting youths for killing cattle Images of Nigerian police detaining two men have been circulating on social media claiming to show the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arresting youths for the “alleged killing” of cattle belonging to Fulani herders in Aba, the commercial centre of Nigeria’s southeastern Abia state. However, the claim is false: the photos, which were taken in the country’s megacity Lagos, have been circulating online for years. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Disgraced US scientist Judy Mikovits jailed in 2021 for discovering retroviruses are transmitted to humans through vaccines Multiple Facebook posts shared in February 2021 claim police have detained discredited US researcher Judy Mikovits for "discovering evidence that deadly retroviruses are transmitted through vaccines". This is false: Mikovits has not been arrested in 2021. She was arrested and briefly jailed in 2011 for unlawfully taking data from her former employer, court documents show. The charges against her were dropped in 2012, according to US media reports. A 2009 study she co-authored on retroviruses did not focus on vaccines and was retracted. There are no credible reports that Mikovits has been detained in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows Japanese PM accepting South Korean sovereignty over disputed islets A video of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been shared on YouTube with fake subtitles that falsely claim his government has "accepted" South Korea's sovereignty over a disputed island chain. The Korean subtitles and voiceover are not an accurate translation of Kishida's words, which were taken from a speech he gave that was unrelated to South Korea. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hindutva mob beating a Muslim man in Tripura A graphic video of two people attacking a man with weapons has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it was filmed during a spate of violence against Muslims in the Indian state of Tripura. The claim is false: the video has circulated in news reports since May about an unrelated incident in Bangladesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Femi Fani-Kayode has left the Nigerian opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 A video being shared online in Nigeria claims that Femi Fani-Kayode, an ex-aviation minister, left the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a few days before a postponed presidential election. However, the video was recorded over five years ago. Fani-Kayode confirmed to AFP that he remains a member of the PDP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a cross breed of a pig and a cow A video has been viewed tens of thousands times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that it shows the hybrid offspring of a cow and a pig. The claim is false; the video actually shows a Belgian Blue bull, a muscular cattle breed from Belgium, and it has circulated online since at least 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ginger oil will promote slimming through belly drainage Social media posts and e-commerce sites advertise the topical use of ginger oil for body slimming through "belly drainage." But medical experts say there is no scientific evidence to support the claim and that promoting this kind of quick fix can distract from serious weight loss efforts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US President Donald Trump threatens to attack Nigeria Two images shared in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp in Nigeria claim to show tweets from US President Donald Trump warning he will attack the West African country for supporting Iran in the wake of rising tensions between the two sparring nations. However, both images have been digitally altered to look like they were sent from Trump’s personal account and are false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of clashes during Pakistan-Afghanistan cricket match in 2022 Footage of cricket fans trading punches is circulating in posts viewed thousands of times that claim it was filmed at a match between Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Asia Cup in September 2022, when clashes broke out between supporters. However, the video surfaced online in June 2019, when Afghanistan and Pakistan cricket fans brawled at a World Cup match in England. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Christmas Tree at the Indonesian Presidential Palace A photo has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows Christmas trees at the Indonesian presidential palace. The claim is false. The photo has circulated since 2014 in reports about Christmas trees in front of Jakarta City Hall. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: French economist Jacques Attali discusses depopulation in his book A post on Instagram claims that French economist Jacques Attali discussed depopulating the planet by orchestrating a pandemic in his book “The Future of Life” published in 1981. This is false: while Attali was interviewed in a book called "Future Life" (first published in French as "L'Avenir de La Vie" in 1981), he did not write it, and he does not mention depopulation in his interview. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows building on fire in Mekelle A video of a building engulfed in flames has been widely shared on Facebook in Ethiopia with claims that the footage was captured in Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray region. The post surfaced not long after the federal government conducted airstrikes in Tigray, suggesting that the fire was caused by an act of war. However, the claim is false: the footage shows a building in the country’s capital Addis Ababa and the cause of the fire was unrelated to the Tigray conflict. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Children found in Philippines Thailand Southeast Asia organs harvested Syria Posts shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook contain images purporting to show children whose organs have been harvested in Southeast Asia. The claim is false; the pictures show young victims of a 2013 chemical attack in Syria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Opposition politician blamed Sinhala majority community for suicide bombers A graphic image showing a screenshot of Sri Lankan opposition leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking on a political talk show has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The graphic includes a purported quote in which Dissanayake blames Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhala community for minorities becoming suicide bombers. The claim, however, is misleading: while Dissanayake urges politicians to protect minorities so that they do not turn to violence, at no point during the interview does he blame the Sinhala community for pushing people to become suicide bombers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Global News published headline about rise in fascist graffiti Two images that appear to show Global News articles about a rise in fascist graffiti in Canada are spreading across social media. But the purported screenshots are digitally altered; the news organization confirmed it did not publish any such story, which does not appear online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show trash-strewn streets in South Africa A gallery of photos has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside a claim that accuses South African politicians of living a high life while the country looks like a “dumping site”. While the photos are real, at least four of them date back several years and are mostly confined to a single area of the country’s financial capital Johannesburg. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: An image of Indonesia’s vice-president declaring his support for a rival politician? Multiple Facebook posts have shared a picture that they claim shows Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla officially declaring his support for opposition candidate Prabowo Subianto in 2019 presidential elections. The posts are false. The photo is an old image that has been taken out of context. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Hong Kong police officer pepper spraying a dog A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter, Facebook and on a Hong Kong-based online forum, alongside a claim that it shows a Hong Kong police officer pepper spraying a dog. This claim is false; the photo shows a police officer pepper spraying a dog in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in May 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows tear gas used during Imran Khan's May 2022 protests Footage has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Pakistan's capital Islamabad blanketed in tear gas in May 2022. The posts spread online after clashes between police and supporters of the country's ousted prime minister Imran Khan in the capital and other cities. However, the footage has been shared in a false context. It has circulated online since at least February 2021, when local media reported that tear gas was used to disperse government employees demanding pay rises. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pierre Poilievre tweeted that Canada should abolish all social programs Social media posts feature an image of a tweet calling for the abolition of all social programs in Canada that appears to be from the account of prime minister candidate Pierre Poilievre. But there is no evidence that Poilievre sent the tweet, which seems to be an altered version of one he posted about inflation, and his campaign says it is "fake." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Accurate health advice about COVID-19 home remedies A list of purported treatments for COVID-19 at its “different stages” has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts. The posts recommend that people with breathing problems should use an oxygen cylinder and monitor their oxygen levels before going to a hospital. The claims, however, are false; health experts have said there is no scientific evidence to suggest the list of purported treatments are effective; they also advised people with breathing difficulties due to suspected COVID-19 to seek immediate medical help. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Kuwait's hottest day in July 2021 when temperature reached 73°C Five photos have been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim they were taken during the hottest day in Kuwait in July 2021, when the temperature reached 73 degrees Celsius. However, the claims are false: all the photos have circulated years before Kuwait's extremely hot summer of 2021. According to the Kuwaiti Meteorological Department, the highest temperature recorded in the country so far in 2021 is 53.5 degrees Celsius, not 73 degrees Celsius. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Eight white Springboks fired for not kneeling in support of BLM A Facebook post shared thousands of times claims that eight white members of South Africa's national rugby team, the Springboks, were fired for not kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement before a club match in the UK. The claim is false; Springboks bosses have denied axing the players who chose not to kneel in line with an anti-racism campaign before their game. A club director also defended them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Overseas airlines considering barring vaccinated travellers Vaccinated travellers (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria Supreme Court has nullified election results and called new vote A post shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook claims that Nigeria’s highest court has annulled the February 23 presidential election and ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct a new vote. This is false: no such judgment has been made. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Indonesia no longer bans people from traveling during the Eid al-Fitr festival in 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts claiming it shows a news report announcing that Indonesia has lifted a travel ban for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr this year. However, the posts are intended as satire. The clip actually shows a newscaster performing tongue twisters in Kazakh. An Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokeswoman told AFP that travel is still banned during Eid in May 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Qatar blocks German team’s plane because of “gay logo” Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Africa claim that a Lufthansa plane carrying the German football team to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup tournament was banned from landing because of its “gay logo”. But the claim is false: the players flew to Oman on the so-called "Diversity" plane for a friendly match, before switching to a smaller aircraft without any branding to head to Qatar. AFP Fact Check also found that “Diversity” landed in Doha on at least three occasions in November 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Walmart stores do not take cash payments A post shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook claims that Walmart stores have stopped accepting cash payments, and that if the stores refuse to accept cash then legally the “debt” is considered paid. Despite some retailers encouraging cashless payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, both claims are false according to Walmart Canada and the Bank of Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Ballots mailed with insufficient postage will not count in Alaska and Ohio The US Postal Service (USPS) says it will deliver absentee ballots with insufficient postage during the 2022 midterm elections, but some social media users claim votes returned without two stamps will not count in states such as Alaska and Ohio. This is misleading; while many states do not prepay postage, USPS's policy is to ask local officials to foot the bill for ballots that come up short. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows a child who died following Covid-19 vaccine jab Dramatic footage of a distressed man crying next to the body of a dead girl has circulated in social media posts worldwide in January 2022 alongside a claim the child died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. However, the journalist who filmed the footage said it shows a child killed by a bomb in Syria in October 2021. A spokesperson for UNICEF told AFP that no children in Syria had received Covid-19 vaccines as of January 11, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows US aircraft shot down by Taliban militants in Afghanistan A video has been viewed millions of times in Facebook posts purporting to show a US military plane being shot down by Taliban militants in Afghanistan. The claim is false; the clip actually shows computer-generated imagery from a war video game called ARMA 3. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ukraine's first female fighter pilot died in recent conflict Social media posts featuring an image of a woman in military uniform claim she is Ukraine's first female fighter pilot and that she died during Russia's invasion. But the Ukrainian Defense Ministry says the photo shows a soldier who won a 2016 beauty contest organized by the military, and the country's first female combat pilot is now a politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The husband of Toronto public health official Eileen de Villa has been arrested An article suggests that the husband of Toronto public health official Eileen de Villa has been arrested, that he put “pressure” on her to enact tight restrictions against Covid-19, and that he has a conflict of interest over vaccines. The claims, based on social media posts, are false; Toronto police said there was no arrest, the health department rejected the conflict of interest allegation, and the man in question has disclosed his financial ties with drug companies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: “Old and sick” wolves head the pack to “set the pace,” with the leader at the back and the strong positioned to offer protection Social media posts featuring an aerial photo of wolves in a line claim that the “old and sick” head the pack to “set the pace,” with the leader at the back and the strong positioned to offer protection. But experts say this is not an accurate description of wolf social behavior. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Global News article said Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine has a 12% efficacy rate An image shared tens of thousands of times on social media purports to show an article from Global News that says the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is only 12 percent effective. This is false; the Canadian news organization did not publish the article, and Pfizer's clinical trial data showed the vaccine to be 95 percent effective. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Ha An Duong Plus" supplements can help replace insulin treatment in diabetes patients A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times that appears to show a Philippine news report touting a herbal supplement for diabetics as an alternative to using insulin. However, the video has been doctored from a report about diabetic Filipinos to insert references to the supplement. Doctors told AFP there was "no evidence" that such supplements can treat diabetes in humans or replace their insulin treatments. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: US citizens married to immigrants are not eligible for stimulus checks Social media posts claim that US citizens married to immigrants are not eligible for relief payments available to many Americans under the stimulus package aimed at countering the economic crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is misleading; the restriction only applies to citizens who file their taxes jointly with a spouse who does not have a valid Social Security number. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bean sprouts are effective in curing dementia. Multiple Facebook posts have shared a claim that bean sprouts are a “cure” for dementia. The claim is false: a health expert at South Korea's Central Dementia Center told AFP bean sprouts are not proven to be a cure for dementia; sprouts are also not recognised as safe and effective for treating dementia, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Ukrainian troops on Snake Island killed by Russia Social media posts, online articles and Ukraine's president hailed 13 of the country's border guards as heroes, saying they were killed on a small Black Sea island after rejecting a Russian warship's surrender demand. But Kyiv's navy later admitted the troops were captive rather than dead, and Moscow said dozens had surrendered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows poor condition of schools during non-BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh As India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh geared up to vote in local elections, politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared photos purportedly showing schools in a dilapidated condition under their political rivals and improved under the rule of their own party. However, the photos of the run-down schools were taken after 2017, when Uttar Pradesh returned to BJP rule, according to Indian news organisations that published the images. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African police ask civilians to ‘shoot to kill’ looters A voice note posted on Twitter and shared hundreds of times claims that the South African Police Service (SAPS) solicited help from the public in quelling bouts of unrest that have engulfed parts of the country, even going so far as sanctioning the use of deadly force. But the claim is false: the police, who are working together with the army, have not issued any statement asking for help from armed civilians. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif greeted differently in Turkey Two photos have circulated online in social media posts that claim Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally greeted Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan at the airport when he visited Turkey, while the current Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was greeted by the Turkish defence minister. The posts -- shared hundreds of times -- are misleading. While the photo of Sharif has been shared in the correct context, the photo of Khan shows him greeting Erdogan in Pakistan, not Turkey, in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Russian attacks on Mariupol in Ukraine A nighttime video of buildings illuminated by ominous flashes of light has been viewed thousands of times globally on social media alongside a claim it shows Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. While the southeastern port city has been under heavy attack, the video was shared in a false context. The footage has circulated online months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The social media user who filmed the clip told AFP it shows a thunderstorm in the Russian town of Volzhsk. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s re-election event held on prayer rugs A photo posted on Facebook purports to show a re-election campaign event of Indonesian President Joko Widodo held on prayer rugs. The claim is false; the photo shows a non-election event in 2016, two years before Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, announced to run for re-election in the 2019 polls. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Japanese bodyguards training after Shinzo Abe's assassination A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Korean-language social media posts that claim it shows Japanese bodyguards conducting a drill following the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022. The claim, however, is false. The video has circulated online since May 2022, and actually shows a police training exercise held in Tokyo prior to a Quad summit hosted by Japan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Muslim man arrested over fatal stabbbing of Delhi policeman Social media users have shared a report by an Indian news outlet that falsely claims Delhi police arrested a Muslim man for the fatal stabbing of a police officer on January 4, 2023 in the capital's Mayapuri district. The report has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, while others shared a similar false claim that the arrested man was a "jihadi". According to Delhi police, the man charged with murder following the killing is Hindu, not Muslim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Faux: Greta Thunberg et George Soros Greta Thunberg, the young icon of the fight against climate change and author of an inspiring speech at the recent UN General Assembly, is the subject of many false claims around the world. Here are a few debunked by AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: WEF wants to ban eggs after research shows they stop Covid-19 Multiple social media posts have falsely claimed the World Economic Forum (WEF) called for a ban on eggs following a study that purportedly concluded they can "cure COVID naturally". In response to the posts, the WEF told AFP it had not called for a ban on eggs. According to a researcher in the study cited in the posts, it is inconclusive whether eating eggs can prevent Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man kept alive by mechanical heart but needs transplant to save life Multiple Facebook posts which have been shared tens of thousands of times contain a photo collage which purports to show a heart transplant patient. The claims are false; the photos in fact show US actor Robert Downey Jr. wearing prosthetic makeup behind the scenes of the 2008 superhero film Iron Man. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: New Zealand broadcast Muslim call to prayer, removed Jesus from parliamentary prayer after Christchurch mosque shootings Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram claim that New Zealand will broadcast the Muslim call to prayer nationwide and remove Jesus from its parliamentary prayer in response to the Christchurch mosque shootings. The claim is misleading: the country did broadcast a call to prayer on March 22, after 50 people were killed in the Christchurch shootings on March 15, however references to Jesus in the parliamentary prayer were removed in late 2017 and not in response to the mosque attacks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: This is the new uniform of Zambia’s police Multiple posts claiming to show the new uniform of Zambia’s police have been shared widely on social media, with many ridiculing the stripy uniforms worn by three men in the attached picture. Zambia’s police spokeswoman rejected the rumours, confirming they had not launched a new uniform and adding that the picture showed the latest uniforms for customs officers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Electric bus catches fire in Nairobi No fire, says BasiGo (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New Ebola outbreak in Nigeria Rumours that Nigeria has been hit by another Ebola outbreak have been circulating on Whatsapp and other social media over the past few days, with some online posts claiming there had been a confirmed case of the deadly virus in Lagos. But while a sick female airline passenger was initially feared to have potentially carried the disease from the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say she tested negative. Health authorities say there is no need to panic and that the risk of Ebola arriving in the country remains low. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Myanmar’s army arresting Aung San Suu Kyi? A photo has been shared in social media posts and news articles about the Myanmar military’s arrest of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as it seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021. The photo has been shared in a misleading context; it shows actress Michelle Yeoh playing Suu Kyi in 2011 movie “The Lady”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows pool of blood after Kabul airport blast in August 2021 A photo of what appears to be a pool of blood has been shared repeatedly in Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim about a blast outside Kabul airport in August 2021. The photo, however, has been shared in a misleading context. The image actually shows a 2017 protest over casualties in Afghanistan in which red dye was poured into a Kabul river. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Woman carries poster about Arabs during 2020 US anti-racism protests? An image that purports to show a protester holding a poster that bears text about Arabs has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter in June 2020 alongside claims that the sign was displayed during ongoing protests in the US against racism and police brutality. The claim is false; the image has been doctored. The original photo, which shows the protester holding a different poster, was published by Reuters during anti-racism protests in the US in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: White House started referred to Christmas trees as holiday trees Social media posts claim the White House called Christmas trees "holiday trees" for the first time in 2021. But the White House description of the decorations repeatedly refers to Christmas trees, both President Joe Biden and his wife Jill have also done so in recent comments, and remarks allegedly responding to the controversy were falsely attributed to a journalist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows voters queueing in Nyeri Kenya A photo has been shared multiple times on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows voters queueing in Kenya’s Nyeri county on August 9, 2022. This is false: the picture is of South Africans lining up to vote in the country’s first all-race elections in Soweto in 1994. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: New Zealand's abortion laws allow for abortion "up to birth for any reason" A video posted by a British pro-life group on Facebook that contains multiple misleading claims about New Zealand’s abortion laws has been viewed tens of thousands of times. The video includes a false suggestion that abortion in New Zealand is “available on-demand, for any reason, up to birth”. Similar claims were published in multiple other anti-abortion posts shared in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Plant seeds can evolve by reading a person’s DNA if they come into contact with their saliva An image has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it shows plants can “read your DNA” if you spit on them and subsequently “structure [their] own genetic blueprint to create a superfood”. The claim is false; experts told AFP there is “no biological mechanism” for the purported process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Justin Trudeau repealed a law in order to allow pedophilia A disinformation campaign in Canada continues to link the repeal to a law making anal sex illegal for under 18s with support for pedophilia. The law was found unconstitutional in 1995 and struck off by Canada’s parliament in 2019, as it was deemed discriminatory against the LGBTQ community. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte criticising legislators Tito Sotto and Vilma Santos in January 2021 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube that purports to show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cursing legislators in January 2021 for supporting Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN. The claim is false: the video in fact shows Duterte giving a speech in May 2017, in which he criticised ABS-CBN. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A genuine tweet from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling for a "purge?" A purported screenshot of a tweet from US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim that she called for a “purge” of Conservatives. The posts circulated online shortly after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, demanding that officials overturn the election of Joe Biden as the next US president. The claim is false: there is no evidence of the tweet ever having appeared on Ocasio-Cortez’s official Twitter account, or in a database of deleted tweets. In response to the misleading posts, Ocasio-Cortez said she did not tweet the purported message. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: In October 2020, Sri Lanka imposed travel ban for leisure and pilgrimage trips until 2021 Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and WhatsApp in early October 2020 claim Sri Lanka banned all vacation and pilgrim travel until 2021 following the discovery of a new coronavirus cluster. The claim, however, is misleading; as of October 9, 2020, the government advised the public against all unnecessary travel, but did not impose a ban; in a tweet on October 5, 2020, Sri Lanka's presidential media division also denied it had imposed a nationwide curfew after the new coronavirus cluster was detected. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Donald Trump said in an interview that he "just can't be upset" with Ye A video circulating on social media appears to show former US president Donald Trump saying he "just can't be upset" with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in spite of the rapper's anti-Semitic remarks and praise for Adolf Hitler. But the clip has been digitally manipulated; the real footage shows an interview Trump gave to NBC News in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: South Korean National Assembly speaker refused to salute the country's national anthem A photo has been shared repeatedly in Korean-language social media posts claiming it shows Park Byeong-seug, the former speaker of the South Korean parliament, "refusing to salute" the South Korean flag while the country's national anthem played during US President Joe Biden's visit to Seoul. The image shows Park with his hands by his side, while Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol can be seen putting their right hands to their hearts. This is misleading; footage of the same event shows Park holding his hand on his heart during his country's national anthem. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Mother refuses polio vaccine for child in Pakistan A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook that claim it shows a Pakistani mother refusing to allow a polio vaccinator to vaccinate her child. The claim is false; the video shows a scene from a Pakistani romantic comedy film released in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ballot guidelines tell Kenyans to mark X for candidate they do not want How to mark ballot papers (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BJP activists try to vote in 2019 election in burqa A photo of a man in an Islamic veil has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts which claim that activists from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been caught trying to vote in India’s 2019 election by impersonating Muslim women in burqas. The claim is false; the photo has circulated online since at least 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Africa’s Ramaphosa replies to Trump’s land seizures tweet A screenshot shared widely on Facebook purports to show a tweet by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa retorting to US President Donald Trump’s controversial 2018 comments on land reform in South Africa. According to the screenshot, Ramaphosa supposedly hit back with a barb about mass shootings in the United States. But this tweet was not posted by the South African leader. There is no record of Ramaphosa tweeting such a message at Trump, and the South African president’s spokeswoman confirmed that it was not posted by him. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Black garlic can decrease risk of developing cancer sixfold Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter claim that black garlic, a type of aged garlic often used as an ingredient in Asian cuisine, has properties that can decrease the chances of developing cancer "sixfold". The claim is misleading; health experts say there is insufficient scientific evidence that black garlic can prevent cancer; Thailand’s National Cancer Institute warns that excessive consumption of black garlic can result in unwanted side effects. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Masks are meant to protect the vaccinated Social media posts claim that remaining US mask requirements exist to protect vaccinated people from those who have not been immunized against Covid-19. This is false; experts say that the reverse is true -- masking is primarily intended to protect those who have not been inoculated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US federal government stopped Texas from generating more power as a severe winter storm approached An article shared thousands of times says the US federal government stopped Texas from generating more power as a severe winter storm approached. This is false; a spokeswoman for the state’s grid operator called the claim “misinformation,” and documents confirm that the Department of Energy granted a request for more electricity six days before the inaccurate article was published. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Whipped cream was banned in South Korean cafes in January 2021 Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook and Korean platform Naver claim that South Korea banned whipped cream at coffee shops on January 1, 2021. The claim is false: the South Korean government introduced a new regulation that requires cafes to use high-pressure gas cylinders for charging whipped cream dispensers, rather than a nitrous oxide cartridge. The new rule is designed to prevent abuse of nitrous oxide, which can be a hallucinogenic, the government said. The new regulation will not have a significant impact on cafes, a Seoul-based cafe owner told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A young man sets fire on his French-made luxury car A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows a young man setting fire to his French-made luxury car in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s defense of the Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon. The claim is false; the clip actually shows a Russian social media personality burning his Mercedes-Benz car; Russian media reports say he destroyed his luxury German car because it kept breaking down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippines issues advisory on avoiding shopping malls and hotels over novel coronavirus A purported Philippine government advisory has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it lists shopping malls and hotels in the Philippines that the Department of Health advises against visiting during the novel coronavirus epidemic. The claim is misleading; the Philippine Department of Health said the purported advisory is "fake”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Philippines is now debt-free A video with tens of thousands of views falsely claims the Philippines is "debt-free" after outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte settled a multi-billion dollar loan in May, a development that the video accuses local media of ignoring. However, data from the Philippine treasury show the claim is baseless, while various news organisations reported on the loan payment that only covered a fraction of the country's total debt. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Philippine President Rodrigo Duerte's son Paolo removing his shirt A Facebook post shared hundreds of times claims that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s son bared his back to disprove allegations he has a tattoo that links him to a drug gang. The claim is false; the photo contained in the post shows an ex-adviser to the president, not his son. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hong Kong woman claims police wanted to rape her An image of a woman has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Weibo which claim she said Hong Kong police officers “want to rape her”. The claim is false; the image has been taken from a local media outlet's video interview with a woman who told journalists that police officers pepper sprayed her boyfriend. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

No Evidence: 80 doctors who received Covid-19 shots died in last 60 days Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective at protecting individuals from severe disease and death, but claims on social media linking the shots to the sudden deaths of doctors in Canada have been shared tens of thousands of times. There is no public data to back the claim and more than a dozen of the doctors mentioned in posts died from unrelated illnesses or accidents. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ukrainian in a body bag caught on camera smoking A TikTok video of a man smoking a cigarette in what appears to be a truck full of body bags has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook posts suggesting that deaths are being staged in the war in Ukraine. The claim is false; the clip shows the behind-the-scenes making of a music video for a song released by Russian rapper Husky in September 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indians drown religious statues for failing to offer COVID-19 protection A video viewed thousands of times on Facebook posts claims to show Indians throwing statues of their gods into a river after they allegedly failed to protect them from the new coronavirus. The claim is false; the clip dates back to at least September 2015, years before the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows a ritual during the closure of a religious festival dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Russian leader Putin in South Africa for summit With Eastern Europe in turmoil following the invasion of Ukraine, a Facebook post shared hundreds of times claims Russian President Vladimir Putin is “in South Africa”. The post includes a video broadcast showing Putin arriving in the country for alliance talks. However, this is misleading: the video was filmed in July 2018 ahead of the 10th summit of the BRICS group, which was hosted by South Africa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 5G technology in India responsible coronavirus deaths A message shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter in India claims that the country's catastrophic second wave of Covid-19 cases was caused by 5G technology. The claim is misleading: the World Health Organization (WHO), radiation experts, and health authorities have said there is no evidence that radiation emitted from 5G is harmful to human health. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian political party RJD workers dump sweets after Bihar election loss A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that it shows political party workers in the east Indian state of Bihar dumping Indian sweets after losing an election. The claim, however, is false; the photo has circulated in a news report about a raid by government officials at a sweet shop in the northern state of Haryana which uncovered a batch of rotten dessert. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kobe Bryant's widow died by suicide A misleadingly edited video circulating online claims that basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s widow killed herself. This is false; there has been no such announcement, and the footage actually shows a Fox News anchor speaking about the death of a colleague. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Archbishop Desmond Tutu Dead Social media posts shared in South Africa and Nigeria claim that South African anti-apartheid icon and Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu died on October 20, 2021. But the claim is false: both the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg confirmed Tutu is alive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Cristiano Ronaldo supporting Indonesia's rejection of Israel in U20 World Cup A video with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok falsely claims that it shows football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo supporting Indonesia's rejection of Israel's participation in the U20 World Cup in 2023 due to his support for the Palestinian cause. The genuine footage actually shows Ronaldo giving an interview in 2015, during which he talks about his football career. The false clip uses various photos that purportedly display Ronaldo's support for the Palestinians, but the images either are taken out of context or have been digitally altered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wiebe Boer aims to become Plateau state governor Digital and hard copies of a political party poster endorsing Wiebe Boer, the CEO of an energy firm who was born in Nigeria to Dutch parents, purport to be proof of his intention to run for governor of Plateau state in the country’s central region. However, this is false: the poster is a hoax. Not only is the party supposedly backing Boer non-existent, but the country’s laws on citizenship preclude him from running for governor. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a moment before the deadly accident in Chittagong in July After a train smashed into a microbus in Bangladesh, a video of young men singing to music inside a vehicle circulated in Facebook posts that claimed it showed the final moments of passengers before the crash. However, the video was posted on TikTok two days before the collision in Chittagong in July 2022. One of the men in the video told AFP the clip had "no connection" to the incident. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Nigerian soldier shooting at #EndSARS protesters Footage of a military gunner firing into the night has circulated on social media with claims that it shows how troops used live ammunition on civilians during ongoing protests against police brutality in Nigeria’s megacity Lagos. But the claim is false: the clip was circulating online before the demonstrations erupted in October 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Lions roaming through Gir national park after monsoon rains A video clip that appears to show a pride of lions walking through a flooded field has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it was filmed at a wildlife sanctuary in western India, which was recently inundated by monsoon rains. However, the video has previously circulated online in posts about lions roaming through a game reserve in South Africa. A representative for the MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa told AFP the video was shot there and not in India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Giant banner unfurled to support Duterte ahead of his annual speech An image has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a banner backing the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to replace him after his term expires in 2022. But the image has been doctored: it originally featured a banner with an anti-Duterte message. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This image shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in preparing lunch boxes prior to his visit to the US. An image showing South Korean President Moon Jae-in preparing lunch boxes has circulated online in social media posts that claim he was making those prior to his visit to the US just in case the US President Joe Biden refuses to have a meal with him. The claim is false: the photo is in fact from 2019 when Moon prepared such lunch boxes for vulnerable social groups. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Time cover features Kenya’s Odinga after election loss An alleged Time cover has been shared on social media showing Kenyan veteran politician Raila Odinga alongside the caption "The man who will never be president”. The picture emerged after he lost the presidential race against key rival William Ruto this week. But the photo is fake: the US publication confirmed the cover page was fabricated. The magazine's archives show Odinga has never been featured on its cover. AFP Fact Check found the image was shared by a former aide who fell out with Odinga. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Brain hemorrhaging is caused by habitual holding of one’s urine Multiple Facebook posts claim regular toe massages can help prevent brain haemorrhages. The posts suggest the massages may trigger a response in a person's brain that reminds them to urinate, expelling harmful acid. Neurologists, however, say there is no evidence to support the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show rebels from an ethnic armed group seizing a town in Myanmar As the Myanmar military continued a deadly crackdown on dissidents, photos circulated in Facebook posts alongside a claim they show members of an ethnic armed group seizing a town. The claim is false: the photos have circulated online in various news reports since at least 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Attack by Niger Delta Avengers on Nigerian security forces A video of armed men in civilian clothing exchanging fire with a group of uniformed men has been widely circulated on social media. Numerous posts purport that the footage shows militants in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region attacking and killing troops. However, the claim is false: the clip shows a simulation exercise conducted by the country's navy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New law says businesses are reserved for Swaziland citizens Multiple posts on Facebook claim that Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, has passed a new law that reserves all businesses for citizens and prohibits the renewal of operating permits for foreigners. The claim is false; the government has dismissed reports that it is introducing new legislation limiting foreign ownership of businesses. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Aliko Dangote running a Facebook giveaway Widely-shared posts on Facebook claim that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is giving away money, food and other assistance to 10,000 youths who have lost loved ones to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is misleading; the Nigerian billionaire has committed hundreds of millions of naira to help Nigerians recover from the health and economic effects of Covid-19, but he is not running a giveaway on Facebook. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of truck convoy to Ontario A picture portrayed as the pro-oil truck convoy that arrived in the Canadian capital Ottawa on February 19 from Canada’s Western provinces has been shared thousands of times in Canadian social media groups. The convoy pictured actually took place in December 2018 in Grande Prairie, Alberta, though it also advocated for increased oil production in Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Jacinda Ardern bribed New Zealand media organisations to win re-election in October 2020 Multiple Facebook and Instagram posts shared hundreds of times in October 2020 claim New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern “bribed New Zealand mainstream media with NZ$125 million" taken from the country's taxpayers in order to win re-election. The claim, however, omits important context; the government introduced funding of NZ$50 million (US$33.23 million) to help struggling media organisations stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic; as of October 29, 2020, the second NZ$75 million (US$49.83 million) tranche has not passed through cabinet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: 1,219,000 unemployed people in Australia according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics A Facebook post published in August 2019 claims data compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows 1,219,000 people are unemployed; 243,200 jobs are vacant; and 1,371,000 people are underemployed in the country. The post has been shared hundreds of times. The claim is misleading; the "unemployed' and "underemployed" figures were compiled by market research company Roy Morgan in January 2018; the "vacant jobs" figure was published by the ABS in May 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea threatens to jail Hong Kong police and families on entry An article circulating online claims that South Korea, in response to human rights concerns, has announced it will arrest and imprison members of the Hong Kong police and their families if they try to enter the country. The claim is false; the purported article was mostly taken from two reports by Hong Kong news site Stand News and adds a misleading headline; South Korea has not issued any new immigration regulations on Hong Kong police; Seoul’s consulate in Hong Kong said the claim was false, and that the country did not block visitors’ entry on the basis of their occupation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show street ‘pothole stickers’ used to slow down motorists in Canada? Three photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they show “pothole stickers” laid on roads in Canada in a bid to slow down motorists. The claim is misleading; all three photos have circulated in reports about an advertising campaign by an India-based agency since at least 2007. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows firefighters that have joined the Dutch farmers' protest Social media posts claim a video shows firefighters who joined farmers protesting environmental regulations in the Netherlands. This is false; the footage was taken in Poland at a charity event to raise money for a sick child. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Image shows girl paying tribute to father who's a rickshaw driver A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a young girl pulling her father in a rickshaw to honor him after she passed her exams. The claim, however, is missing context; the image shows a travel blogger posing for a photo with an unrelated rickshaw driver in Calcutta, India. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man dies after accusing father of bully in the Philippines Online reports being shared across multiple social media platforms claim a man who challenged the father of an accused bully in one of the Philippine's top schools has been found dead. However, the video used in the reports shows a 2016 news clip about an unrelated incident. Also, the man is a Filipino-Canadian soldier and the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed to AFP that he is still alive. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Media hid clip of Marcos telling military not to shoot at protesters Old footage of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos appearing to instruct the military not to shoot protesters calling for him to step down has been viewed millions of times online alongside a claim it was never broadcast by the media. However, multiple media reports since the "People Power" revolution that toppled Marcos in 1986 have featured the clip or have referenced the event it shows. Historians told AFP the clip had been shared in a misleading context, as historical accounts indicate military units received but subsequently refused orders to attack the camp where protesters were gathered. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Chinese soldiers captured by Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh A photo has been shared thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows the Indian army capturing Chinese soldiers in a face-off along India's border with China. The claim is false: the photo shows actors in a scene from an upcoming feature film. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows big potholes on a road in Mumbai, India A video that shows vehicles travelling along a road covered in large potholes has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim it was filmed in India. The claim is false; the video actually shows a road in China’s Guangdong province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Cristiano Ronaldo reciting holy Koran A video has surfaced in Facebook posts that falsely claim it shows football star Cristiano Ronaldo reading the Koran, the holy book of Islam. It is the latest misinformation linking the Portuguese forward -- who has spoken publicly about his Catholic faith -- to Islam. The man in the footage is actually a TikTok star called Bewar Abdullah, who has attracted media attention and hundreds of thousands of followers because of his resemblance to the player. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show designs for a palace in Addis Ababa A set of photos shared on Facebook purportedly shows designs for a new palace under construction in a forest in Ethiopia’s capital. However, this is false: two of the photos show the design for a smart forest city in Mexico, not Ethiopia, while a third shows a winding road in Germany. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka Muslim doctor secretly sterilises 4,000 women A month after hundreds of people were killed in Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, a major local newspaper published a report claiming that a Muslim surgeon was a member of a terrorist group linked to the attacks and had secretly sterilised 4,000 Sinhala Buddhist women. The story was picked up by local television channels and widely shared on social media. But the claim is false; a major investigation by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department found the doctor had not performed any sterilisations; all of Sri Lanka's law enforcement and intelligence agencies have said the doctor has no links to terrorism. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of car crash that killed Lars Vilks, Swedish cartoonist who drew Prophet Mohammed A video of a burning vehicle has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside a claim that it shows the car crash that killed Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who drew controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, in October 2021. The claim is false; the video has circulated in news reports about a deadly road accident in Russia in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: COVID-19 symptoms progress in three distinct stages Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim patients infected with the novel coronavirus will experience respiratory symptoms that progress in severity in three distinct stages. The posts also prescribe purported home remedies for the disease, including eating garlic and gargling saltwater and vinegar. The claims are misleading; health experts have said COVID-19 symptoms vary from person-to-person; the purported coronavirus treatments listed in the posts have previously been debunked by AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photos show South Korea officially welcomed Spanish PM at construction site After Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited South Korea, misleading social media posts emerged mocking officials for purportedly holding a "welcome reception" for the leader at a building site. While Sanchez genuinely visited the construction site of a Spanish cultural institute in Seoul, he was officially welcomed at a ceremony at the South Korean presidential office. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The Gambia supports Myanmar’ ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party for the upcoming election in November 2020 Multiple photos and one video have been shared thousands of times in posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim they show Gambian citizens supporting Myanmar’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), ahead of an election scheduled for November 2020. The claim is misleading; the photos and video show a factory in Kenya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian king says Tinubu did not win election A Facebook post shared in Nigeria claims that Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a prominent traditional ruler in the country's southwest, said president-elect Bola Tinubu did not win the February 2023 election. But this claim is misleading: the monarch congratulated Tinubu during a TV interview, while noting his election was "humbling" because the number of people who voted for opposition candidates totalled more than the number of votes for the president-elect. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of President Buhari’s funeral A video showing a body wrapped in a Nigerian flag and carried by military officers through a crowd has been shared thousands of times online, with claims that it documents the funeral of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. This is false; the footage comes from an Associated Press video showing the burial of former Nigerian leader Umar Musa Yar’Adua, who died in May 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Head of Singapore top court defends Indian judiciary's power to name judges An Indian scholar has been misidentified as Singapore's chief justice in online posts that falsely claim footage shows the top judge calling on a New Delhi audience to defend the Indian judiciary's power to appoint judges. The clip -- viewed thousands of times -- in fact shows a speech by legal scholar G Mohan Gopal, not Singaporean Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon. While Menon gave a speech during his visit to New Delhi in February, official transcripts contained no references to the Indian judiciary's power to appoint judges. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: HIV-infected needles strike India Multiple Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter posts have shared a warning about contaminated needles being planted in public areas in India to cause multiple new cases of HIV infection. The claim is false; it is a longstanding HIV hoax which references non-existent sources; experts say that while the virus can be spread via used needles, the risk of being infected in this manner is "extremely low". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A video of a Chinese solider beating a Uighur Muslim for having a Koran? A video that has been viewed more than a million times since it was posted January 1, 2019 on social media purportedly shows a Chinese soldier beating a Uighur Muslim for having a copy of the Koran. The video is actually from 2017 and shows an Indonesian soldier hitting a thief. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows gathering of celebrities at Indian billionaire’s home in December 2020 Footage of celebrities and politicians attending an event at the home of an Indian billionaire has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in December 2020 alongside a claim that the gathering breached social distancing regulations during the coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; the video and similar footage has circulated since September 2019 in reports about celebrities attending a Hindu festival celebration. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Malaysia gets hajj quota during the pandemic A screenshot of a news report that Saudi Arabia has given Malaysia additional hajj quota has been shared multiple times by Indonesian social media users on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter alongside a claim that Malaysia can perform the hajj pilgrimage during the pandemic while Indonesia has cancelled the hajj. The claim is misleading: the additional quota for Malaysia will only be implemented when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, the Malaysian prime minister said. This year, Saudi Arabia only allows a scaled down hajj for fully vaccinated residents of the kingdom. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Kenyan cult leader’s shirt branded with logo Raila Odinga-led party Online posts have shared an image of Kenyan cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie wearing an orange T-shirt purportedly featuring the logo of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s political party. They claim Mackenzie – accused of inciting and possibly forcing his followers to starve themselves to death – is a member of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). But this is false: the image was altered by adding the ODM logo to Mackenzie’s shirt and Odinga's spokesman has denied any connection between the party and Mackenzie. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Doctored front page with image of Australian PM An image has been shared repeatedly in social media posts ahead of the Australian federal elections that purports to show a front page from a News Corp paper urging readers to vote Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison out of office. However, the image has been doctored to add Morrison's face onto the body of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was originally pictured on the paper's front page in 2013. A spokesperson for the paper told AFP the image circulating in misleading social media posts was a "digital manipulation". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Social distancing was not practiced at John Lewis's funeral Social media posts shared more than 100,000 times claim social distancing aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus was not practiced at the funeral of civil rights icon John Lewis, and that the church was full. This is false; photographs clearly show space between mourners, and a spokesperson for the church said it reached only a fraction of capacity as people stayed six feet apart, except for members of Lewis’s grieving family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippine President Duterte signs measure that opens nuclear power plant in August 2020 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times in August 2020 claim that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed order to open a nuclear power plant. The claim is misleading; in July 2020, Duterte signed an executive order to conduct a study on the country’s nuclear power policy; as of August 31, 2020, legislative records show the president has not enacted a law to open a nuclear power plant. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: People died on the streets in China due to the new coronavirus A photo of people lying down on the ground has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows people who died from the new coronavirus in China. The claim is false; the image shows people participating in an art project in 2014 to remember the victims of the Nazi's Katzbach concentration camp in Frankfurt. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian newspaper calls US army general "Biafran" Nigerian media outlets reported on the promotion of USarmy officer Amanda Azubuike from the rank of lieutenant colonel to brigadier general in early November. Several social media posts claimed to show a screenshot of one such report by a national newspaper describing Azubuikeas as a “Biafran woman”, in reference to the separatist movement in Nigeria's southeast. But AFP Fact Check found that the headline was altered, with the original version calling her “Nigerian”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mosque built by Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan A photo of a grand building has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that it shows a mosque built by Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and his wife in his hometown. The claim is false: the photo in fact shows a railway station in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Julius Malema's house The residents of a luxury home in Johannesburg continue to fear for their safety as a result of a 2018 Facebook post which falsely claims the mansion belongs to Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s leftist opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. The claim is so widely shared that a quick internet search might lead you to believe the claim is true. In fact, reports have been falsely linking the house to Malema since 2010. The home’s owner told media at the time that the property had no connection to Malema. In December, a member of the family issued a plea for members of the public to leave them alone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows Indian troops demolishing Chinese bunkers along Pangong lake in Ladakh A video has been viewed repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows Indian soldiers demolishing bunkers that were built by China along a lake on the disputed border in Ladakh. The claim is false: the video actually shows Indian paramilitary troops carrying relief and rescue operations in Uttarakhand state’s Chamoli district after a glacial burst destroyed two mountain dam projects in February 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lankan influencer left mandatory quarantine early Multiple Facebook posts shared a video clip featuring a Sri Lankan social media influencer who was forced to quarantine after breaking Covid-19 restrictions. The video claims lifestyle and beauty vlogger Piumi Hansamali broke her mandatory two-week quarantine and went home. The claim is misleading: authorities told AFP she completed the quarantine; the video clip is from an Instagram Live broadcast at least four years ago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pakistani actress ‘doesn’t care’ about the Quran An image showing a news photo of a Pakistani actress alongside her purported “quote” about supporting homosexuality while not caring “what Quran says” has been shared hundreds of times in multiple social media posts in March 2020. The claim is misleading: the original image from the media outlet has been altered to include the fabricated “quote” about the Quran. The actress, Mehar Bano, has previously expressed support for homosexual rights in Pakistan but never made such claim about the Muslim holy book. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Picture of Malaysian Chinese man burning Malaysian flag A picture has been shared hundreds of times on multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a Malaysian Chinese man burning a Malaysian flag. The claim is false; the photo has circulated in reports about a Filipino man burning a Malaysian flag in a protest in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The novel coronavirus can be spread through fruits and vegetables because it remains viable on them for 12 hours Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter claim that a Hong Kong medical lab has warned the novel coronavirus can remain viable on fruits and vegetables for 12 hours, therefore people should "avoid salads" over fears of contracting COVID-19. The claim is false; the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong said there is no evidence to suggest that the virus is transmitted through food produce; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have also separately said there is "no evidence" that COVID-19 has been transmitted through food. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wan Azizah, wife of Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, appointed to a role in Prime Minister’s Department While Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was rocked by accusations of nepotism for appointing his daughter as a senior adviser in January 2023, Facebook posts falsely claimed that he had given his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, a job as "chairman of Federal Territories Members of Parliament, Federal Territories Department, Prime Minister's Department". However, this role does not exist. The Prime Minister's Office said Anwar had not appointed his wife to any official role and had no plans to do so. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows human cloning technology A video clip of a woman in a white jacket showing a purported human baby inside a clear liquid-filled plastic bag has been watched more than a million times in social media posts that claim it depicts human cloning technology. This is false: the video shows a Brazilian content creator who told AFP that she was simulating childbirth using a realistic doll -- and it was not a human clone. There is no credible evidence that humans have been successfully cloned. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: There is unlimited water within the earth A TikTok video has been viewed tens of thousands of times that claims climate change is a global conspiracy concealing the fact there is an unlimited amount of water within the Earth. The clip -- which cited a geophysicist at a US university as the source of the claims -- was reshared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter. But AFP found the US university had no record of the purported geophysicist, and experts told AFP the video's claims were false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image collage shows four-legged woman Josephine Myrtle Corbin A collage of images of four-legged women has been shared alongside a claim the pictures show the historical figure Josephine Myrtle Corbin, an American sideshow performer. The collage is misleading: the two images of a bride actually show a fictional character called Ashley Braistle, who was invented by a fake news tabloid in the 1990s. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African woman marries two men after polyandry becomes legal A video shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Instagram claims to show a South African bride marrying two men after the country allegedly legalised polyandry. The claim is false: the woman in the clip is a Nigerian actress, and the scene was a prank wedding in a reality show. In addition, South Africa has not yet amended its Marriage Act to allow women to marry more than one man. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures show British Prime Minister Boris Johnson banging a traditional Burmese gong in support of people in Myanmar after a military coup on February 1, 2021. Photos circulating on Facebook purport to show UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson banging a traditional Burmese gong in support of people in Myanmar after a military coup on February 1, 2021. The claim is false: the photo shows Johnson celebrating Britain’s split from the European Union on January 31, 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Viral social media posts claiming bibles are banned in South Korea’s capital city omit important context Multiple posts shared on Facebook in November 2020 claim that South Korea’s Seoul Metropolitan Government has banned churches from displaying and using Bibles during their services. The claim is misleading; the city’s announcement on November 23, 2020 actually bans the sharing of communal Bibles among worshippers, as part of a city-wide effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus; city officials told AFP that individuals are permitted to read their personal Bibles in churches. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Ripe bananas contain a cancer-fighting substance called TNF Social media posts shared thousands of times claim eating overripe bananas can prevent cancer as they contain "a type of substance that boosts immune systems". The posts appear to cite a study by Japanese researchers, but the claim is misleading: the paper does not say the fruit contains the immune-boosting protein, nor encourages the consumption of overripe bananas. Experts told AFP that the substance is only found in mammals and not plants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: United States Postal Service advises customers never to send cash in the mail, and implies that voting by mail would also be unsafe A Facebook post shared tens of thousands of times claims the United States Postal Service advises customers “never to send cash in the mail,” and implies that voting by mail would also be unsafe. The claim about sending cash is partly false; a USPS spokesman said that the mailing of cash is not prohibited and can be insured, but using checks or money orders is safer because these methods are traceable. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Poll puts Kenya’s Ruto ahead of election rival Odinga Facebook posts in Kenya have shared a graphic that purports to show the results of an opinion poll conducted by research firm GeoPoll ranking the country’s two main election contenders, deputy president William Ruto and arch-rival Raila Odinga. The claim is false; the graphic is entirely fabricated. GeoPoll also denied “conducting any political opinion polls in Kenya”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: [Facebook posts surfaced claiming that a major TV channel announced that all Myanmar citizens aged 18 and over must serve in the army.] As Myanmar’s military continues a crackdown on protesters and rebel groups fighting its February coup, Facebook posts surfaced claiming that a major TV channel announced that all Myanmar citizens aged 18 and over must serve in the army. The claim, however, is false: the state broadcaster, MRTV-4 has not broadcast any such announcement, as of May 20, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Media did not report on DSWD’s preparations for Super Typhoon Noru Facebook and TikTok users shared an image allegedly showing the Philippine media's "bias" against the government in their coverage of Super Typhoon Noru. The posts -- viewed thousands of times -- claimed local media outlets had produced "no news" about the government's preparations for the storm, yet they had highlighted the efforts of a charity run by former vice president Leni Robredo. This claim is false; keyword searches found multiple news reports about the government-run social welfare agency's preparations days before Noru made landfall in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Putin is angered after Denmark plundered Indonesian tanker carrying Russian oil A video has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that claim it shows Russian President Vladimir Putin angrily condemning Danish authorities for "plundering" an Indonesian tanker after it collected oil from Russia. This is false; the footage shows a ship that was blocked off the coast of Denmark in March 2022 by Greenpeace activists who were calling for a ban on the import of fossil fuels from Russia. The clip of Putin was taken from an unrelated speech he gave in March 2021, in which he accused the West of trying to "cancel" Russian culture. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: The South Korean government has decided to pay 1 billion won to families of Itaewon crowd crush victims Korean-language social media posts shared a fortnight after a deadly crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district misleadingly claim that the South Korean government has decided to give more than one billion won ($746,000) in compensation to each of the victims' families. The posts said the sum was comparable to the compensation given to families of those killed in the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. A South Korean presidential spokesperson told AFP that it had not made a decision on compensation for families of the Itaewon victims, adding that a police investigation into the accident remained ongoing. The compensation given to the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims was also less than the misleading posts claimed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesian religious teacher Herry Wiryawan is executed for raping his students Various blog articles shared on Facebook claim a religious teacher in Indonesia convicted of raping 13 students was executed for his crimes. The claim is false; Herry Wirawan was sentenced to life in prison, not execution, according to court documents and news reports. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: There is no ebola outbreak in Uganda In Uganda, multiple social media posts have claimed that there is no Ebola in the country. However, local authorities and international organisations have confirmed an ongoing outbreak. Uganda’s health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of Ebola in the country on September 20, 2022, after a young man showed symptoms of the disease and died. The NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is working alongside local health workers to fight the outbreak, told AFP Fact Check that the virus has been spreading. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows blast at Aramco oil refinery in Saudi Arabia A video of a large explosion has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows a recent blast at Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil refinery, which was hit by drone strikes on September 14, 2019. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since 2012 in reports about an explosion at a natural gas plant in northern Mexico. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Out Of Context: Iranian strikes on Iraq on the night of January 7-8, 2020 Viral videos shared on social networks as well as in certain media on the night of January 7-8, 2020 claim to show Iranian strikes launched at night against US bases in Iraq. However, the images are from at least 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: New banknote issued to honor ex-Philippine dictator Marcos Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show a new Philippine banknote featuring the image of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. However, the image -- which many social media users appeared to believe showed a genuine banknote -- comes from a satirical Facebook page. The Philippine central bank said on November 9 it had not issued a new banknote design. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australian farmers are forced to inject mRNA vaccine to their animals An Australian anti-vaccine campaigner has falsely claimed the state of New South Wales has "forced farmers to vaccinate their herd with mRNA jabs" that allegedly led to dozens of cattle deaths. Whilst mRNA vaccines for viral livestock diseases are in development, as of October 11, no such jabs were available or mandated for use for cattle in Australia. AFP has not found evidence the incident described in the posts actually occurred. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Cairo Tower lit up with colours of Palestinian flag Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook show an image of the Cairo Tower lit up with the colours of the Palestinian flag alongside a claim that the display is a show of solidarity following the recent Israeli-Palestinian fighting. The claim is false: the image has been online since 2010, 11 years before the latest surge in violence in the conflict. Furthermore, the image has been doctored to add the colours of the Palestinian flag. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Nigerian strongman Ibrahim Babangida endorses Peter Obi As campaigning to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s president reaches a fever pitch ahead of February’s elections, opposition leader Peter Obi has been enjoying a wave of endorsements from high-profile Nigerians, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Several social media posts claim that former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Babangida has also thrown his weight behind Obi. This is false; the tweet used as evidence came from a parody account, and a spokesman for Babangida has denied he endorsed Obi. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Supporters of Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi cry as they meet him after election defeat A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows supporters of Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi crying as they met him after his defeat in the Indian elections. The claim is false; the video has circulated online since November 2017 in reports about Gandhi meeting the families of victims of a power plant explosion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hidden Chinese military base found in the Philippines A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows a hidden Chinese military base in Zambales, a province northwest of Manila. The claim is false; the photo shows the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps; the story about a hidden Chinese military base in Zambales originated from a satirical article in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A mixture of coffee and lemon is effective for losing weight Numerous posts with claims that drinking a mixture of coffee and lemon is effective for losing weight have been circulating on social media across Africa. However, the claim is false: medical experts told AFP Fact Check that there is no scientific evidence that the mixture could facilitate weight loss. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: A video has been viewed hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter published in August 2020 alongside a claim it shows the aftermath of a tank driving through a crowd of protesters in Portland, US. This claim is misleading; the video previously circulated in reports about a traffic accident in August 2020 in southern Brazil; Portuguese can be heard spoken in the video. This video has circulated online in reports about a traffic accident in Brazil (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Priyanka Gandhi met Pakistan’s army chief in Dubai on Feb 7, 2019 Posts shared thousand of times claim Indian politician Priyanka Gandhi met Pakistan’s army chief in Dubai on February 7, 2019. The claim is false; Priyanka Gandhi was in India on that date and there have been no recent reports of the army chief visiting Dubai. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows a Sarus crane that was confiscated by wildlife authorities. A bird that would not leave the side of the Indian farmer who nursed it back to health remains in quarantine at a zoo, a spokesperson told AFP, contradicting Facebook and Twitter posts that claim the Sarus crane was found bleeding at a railway station. The posts share a video of a Sarus crane, but the clip in fact shows a different bird that died after being found injured on the platform. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Hoax: Moon and Mars will appear of equal size in night sky Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that the Moon and Mars will appear to be the same size in the night sky on August 27, 2020. The claim is a frequently-repeated hoax that can be traced back to 2003, and US space agency NASA has explained that, even with magnification, Mars will not appear as large as a full Moon. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Chinese-made robot dancers in Shanghai Disneyland A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter alongside a claim it shows lifelike robots performing a classical dance in China's Shanghai Disneyland theme park. The claim is false: the video features human dancers, and the clip was filmed in Moscow, Russia. AFP did not find any reference to a show with robot dancers on the Shanghai Disneyland website. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Cristiano Ronaldo struck a fan after Portugal's World Cup loss to Morocco Social media users are claiming a video shows Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo striking a fan in frustration as he walked off the field following his side's defeat to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. This is misleading; other angles of the moment show a security guard bumping into Ronaldo while rushing to pull the pitch invader away. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows earthquake in Turkey and Syria in 2023 An old dashcam video of a shaking highway has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times posts that falsely claim it shows the devastating earthquake in Turkey and neighbouring Syria in February 2023. But the video clip was actually filmed in the Japanese capital of Tokyo and was previously shared in a YouTube post about the massive earthquake that rocked the country in 2011. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian sprinter Hima Das wins gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham A video has been viewed millions of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows Indian sprinter Hima Das winning a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. However, the claim is false; while Das competed in the Games, she did not secure any medals. The video is from 2018, when she won gold in the women's 400m race at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Prophet Mohammed's birthday celebration in Africa A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows crowds celebrating the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday. The claim is false; the video has circulated since at least 2016 in posts about the birthday celebration of Sufi master Ibrahim Niass in Nigeria. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images show human-shaped pylons carrying electricity across Iceland Facebook posts shared hundreds of times around the world claim to show images of human-shaped electricity pylons in Iceland. The claim is misleading; the images show a US-based architecture firm's proposal for electricity pylons that have not been constructed as of January 24, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Then and now" photos of Smokey Mountain dumpsite in Manila Photos shared hundreds of times on Facebook in February 2019 claim to show “then and now” photographs of Smokey Mountain, a dumpsite in the Philippine capital. The posts are inaccurate: the “then” image is actually of a dumpsite in Cambodia and the “now” photo was posted online in 2010. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hardik Patel was slapped onstage while joining the BJP A video of a man slapping Indian politician Hardik Patel has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it happened when Patel left the main opposition Congress party for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in June 2022. However, the video has circulated since 2019 in reports about Patel being attacked during a rally in Gujarat, while he was still a member of the Congress party. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows former Thai beauty pageant winner holding anti-monarchy sign? A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows a former Thai beauty pageant winner holding a sign declaring she will refuse to accept any job until Thailand “doesn't have a monarchy”. The posts circulated online after large youth-led pro-democracy protests were staged in Thailand. However, the claim is false; the image has been manipulated to show a doctored placard; the original photo shows the former beauty pageant winner holding a sign promoting justice for everyone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN tweeted American actor Steven Seagal is with Russian forces in Ukraine Social media posts feature an alleged CNN tweet that claims American actor Steven Seagal took up arms alongside Russian special forces in Ukraine. But CNN said the tweet -- which includes an image of Seagal in fatigues and carrying a weapon -- is fake, and his representatives also rejected the claim, saying the actor wants peace for both countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jill Biden added a satanic mirror to holiday decor The unveiling of the 2022 holiday decorations at the White House sparked claims that the Bidens intentionally included satanic imagery. This is false; the gilded mirror shown in photos shared online has been in the White House collection since 1946 and was displayed during other presidencies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Tangshan incident’s 19-year-old victim A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple Chinese-language posts that claim it shows a 19-year-old victim of an attack on a group of women at a restaurant in the northeastern Chinese city of Tangshan that sparked outrage. In fact, the photo has been shared in a false context. It was actually published by a fashion blogger in November 2019, who said she was not a victim in the assault. None of the attack victims listed in a statement by Hebei police in June were 19 years old or had the same surname as the fashion blogger. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Image shows New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern hugging gang member An image appearing to show New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugging a man wearing the colours of infamous Kiwi gang the Mongrel Mob has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. However, the image has been doctored; the picture of Ardern has been lifted from a genuine photo showing her hugging first responders after the White Island Volcano disaster in 2019, while the picture of gang members was taken at a police officer's funeral. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Visuals show victims of India's recent Covid-19 surge A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook, Twitter and Weibo posts that claim it shows victims of India’s second Covid-19 wave in 2021. The claim is false: the video actually shows victims of a gas leak in an industrial port city in south India in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Police being deployed to secure April 11, 2022, protest in Jakarta A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts alongside a claim it shows police officers being deployed ahead of a protest in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in April 2022. However, the clip has been shared in a false context; the footage shows police officers being dispatched to a protest in May 2019 in Jakarta. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures show air pollution reduction in Colombo during COVID-19 curfew Three photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim they show improved air quality in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo during a nationwide curfew implemented due to the coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; the photos actually show the skyline of the Philippine capital Manila. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Weapons seized in Tigray by Amhara forces An image of weapons and ammunition has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook in Ethiopia alongside a claim it shows an arsenal recently seized from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) by the Amhara Special Forces, soldiers of a region that shares a border with the northern Tigray region. However, this is false. This photograph shows weapons seized by the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in Mogadishu back in 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates says Biafra will liberate Africa from slavery Multiple posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim that Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Nigeria’s Biafra state could become the world’s second-largest economy within five years of independence and overtake China as a leader in technology. This is false; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation told AFP Fact Check that he did not make the comments. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Real photo of Pakistan, Indian PMs having dinner together A photo shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter appears to show Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan dining with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The photo has been doctored from a 2015 image of the Pakistani leader with his then-wife Reham Khan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Lumpy skin infection in pigs in Thailand, therefore you should not eat beef or pork Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times warn people in Thailand against eating beef or pork because a recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease, a viral infection in cattle, has spread to pigs. The claim is false: the disease is not transmissible to pigs and there is no risk of humans becoming infected if they eat beef or pork, according to health experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pictures of South Africa's Carlton centre An image shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show the deterioration of an iconic building in South Africa. The posts are false; it actually shows an abandoned mall in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows microburst over Karachi in July 2022 After monsoon rains battered Pakistan in July 2022, social media posts shared a video they claimed shows a microburst over the South Asian nation's largest city Karachi. But the video -- viewed tens of thousands of times -- has been shared in a false context. It actually shows a microburst over the US state of Arizona in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows bombing in Gaza in January 2022 Following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on New Year's Day, a photo circulated in social media posts claiming it showed smoke billowing from burning buildings in the conflict zone. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it was originally taken by an AFP photographer on May 17, 2021, when Israeli warplanes bombarded Gaza City during a spate of deadly clashes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Human-elephant hybrid born in Norway Multiple posts on Facebook have claimed that a picture of a baby with animalistic features proves that a hybrid human-elephant child was recently born to a woman in Norway. The claims are false; the picture shows an artwork created and exhibited more than a decade ago by an Australian artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Alexandre Trudeau arrested by the Montreal police Social media posts claim that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's brother Alexandre was arrested in Montreal for sexual misconduct with a minor, possession of child pornography and possession of drugs. But no such arrest has been made, according to Montreal police, and the website that stoked the claim is renowned for publishing false stories. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo of pope visiting satanic temple An image showing Pope Francis inside a temple dedicated to Lucifer has been shared more than 260 times on Facebook in Nigeria. But AFP Fact Check found that the picture has been digitally altered by superimposing the pontiff on a picture of a satanic place of worship. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration releases graphic showing hundreds of Covid-19 vaccine deaths A graphic bearing the logo of Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has circulated online alongside a claim that it shows there have been hundreds of “Covid-19 vaccine deaths” in the country. The posts are misleading: the TGA said it had not issued the graphic. The data in the graphic misrepresent actual figures on Covid-19 vaccinations released by the TGA on May 27, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Afghan nationals entering Pakistan without COVID-19 screening A video of hundreds of people crossing a border has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows people from Afghanistan entering Pakistan without being tested for the novel coronavirus. The claim is false; the video in fact shows Afghan nationals leaving Pakistan after the border was temporarily opened in early April in order to allow Afghans to return home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows Fijian politician at ballot printing facility ahead of election Ahead of a general election in Fiji, an old photo circulated in misleading online posts that claimed it shows the general secretary of the ruling FijiFirst party Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum visiting a ballot printing facility shortly before the polls. It surfaced after the opposition party accused Sayed-Khaiyum of visiting the facility in the weeks before the vote. The picture was in fact taken during Sayed-Khaiyum's visit to a ballot printing facility in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows anti-coup protest in Myanmar? An image has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside claims it shows an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The image, however, has been altered; although there have been huge crowds at protests against the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, the image has been manipulated to make the demonstration appear larger. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Barack Obama crying over George Floyd killing? A post shared thousands of times in different languages purports to show former US president Barack Obama crying at an anti-racism conference, with some saying he spoke after the fatal US arrest of George Floyd. In reality, the clip is a montage of two separate speeches Obama gave about gun control while he was still president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Ferdinand Marcos Jr tops electoral poll Social media posts have shared a video claiming Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr, the son of a former Philippine dictator, is leading public opinion polls and support for him is getting 'stronger' ahead of the country's 2022 elections. These posts are misleading: the video does not mention any specific poll which Marcos Jr purportedly topped; the most recent surveys by a leading Philippine polling body show him placing either third or second, with nationwide support not getting stronger over time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows US police sexually harassing a female protester during May 2020 protests over police brutality A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Weibo posts which claim it shows US police officers sexually harassing a woman at a protest. The posts circulated online in late May 2020 during mass demonstrations across the US against police brutality. The claim is misleading; the photo has circulated online since 2011 in reports about police detaining a woman during the 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show the Keystone pipeline and a lithium mine Posts shared tens of thousands of times on social media claim to show photos of the Keystone oil pipeline and a lithium mine. However, the images are mislabeled; one shows an oil pipeline in Alaska while the other shows a gold mine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Covid-19 vaccine can cause male impotence Rapper Nicki Minaj suggested on Twitter that Covid-19 vaccines can cause male impotence, saying a relative's friend in Trinidad suffered that condition as well as testicular swelling after being immunized. But the country's health minister said no such incident was reported, and experts told AFP that the shots have not been found to affect fertility or male genitalia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This is a real photo of Mughal Emperor Akbar Facebook posts circulating in India show two pictures — one black-and-white photo of an austere-looking man and a colour photo of an Indian actor’s glamorous portrayal of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The posts claim that the old photo shows the “real Akbar” and criticise “communists” for glorifying Akbar in modern-day impersonations. The claim is false; the old photo shows the last Mughal king’s son who was born centuries after Akbar’s reign; cameras did not exist during Akbar’s life. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canada to impose martial law in October 2021 A video shared on social media claims that martial law will be imposed in Canada in October 2021. This is false; the document cited as evidence is an emergency order aimed at curbing the Covid-19 pandemic in the province of Saskatchewan, and does not authorize a military deployment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: This video shows genuine Covid-19 advice from Chinese official A satirical video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that misleadingly claim it shows a Chinese official at a press conference suggesting body tattoos can help fight against Covid-19. But the creator of the video told AFP that it was only a performance made for "fun". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dangerous criminals pretending to sell soap in Malaysia A series of pictures showing four men have been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook with a claim that they had robbed, raped or killed people in different parts of Malaysia while pretending to sell soap. The claim is false; Malaysian police said the images actually show suspects in the death of an Indonesian man in Sarawak state in October 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Plane crash-lands on Nigerian highway Several videos of an aircraft on a busy highway have circulated in social media posts claiming that it crash-landed in Ikeja, the capital of Nigeria’s Lagos state. However, the claim is false: the clips, filmed at different parts of the Lagos-Agege Motorway, actually show an airplane being towed to a new destination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sharing COVID-19 messages declared a punishable offence in India A claim that India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has made it a “punishable offence” for citizens to publish posts on social media about the novel coronavirus has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. The claim is false; India’s official Press Information Bureau said it had made no such law; an online search for the purported government minister who issued the alleged ban yielded no results. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fauci is alone in saying hydroxychloroquine unproven against COVID-19 Social media posts shared tens of thousands of times claim White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci stands alone in insisting hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness against COVID-19 is unproven, while Italy, France, Spain and Brazil say it “works.” This is false; health authorities in these countries say data on this treatment is “preliminary” and “not yet conclusive.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian government has enacted the Disaster Management Act which makes publishing posts on the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, a punishable offence A claim has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter posts that the Indian government has outlawed social media posts about the novel coronavirus pandemic through a piece of national legislation called the Disaster Management Act. The claim is false; Indian officials said the posts were “misleading and false”; AFP found two of the purported sections of the law cited in the misleading posts do not exist under the act and the other does not mention a social media ban related to COVID-19 content. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian ruling party's VP candidate Kashim Shettima said he’s unfit to run Several social media posts recently claimed that the vice-presidential candidate of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said he was “sick and unfit” ahead of February’s elections. The posts implied that Kashim Shettima said he was not fit to run. However, this is misleading: while he acknowledged in a Facebook Live session that he was diabetic and had high blood pressure, he said both he and the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, were both healthy enough to stand for election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Anthony Fauci lied about Covid-19 natural immunity because he said in an old video that flu infection is the best vaccine Facebook posts claim top US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci contradicted himself by advising all Americans to get vaccinated against Covid-19, citing a years-old clip in which the doctor says a person who recovered from influenza need not receive a flu shot. But Covid-19 and the flu are distinct diseases, Fauci's advice in the 2004 video was specific to one person, and scientists are still researching the durability of natural immunity following Covid-19 infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Hong Kong people queuing to withdraw money from China banks A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook alongside a claim that it shows Hong Kong citizens queuing at Chinese banks to cancel their accounts after mass protests hit the city in June 2019. The video is being shared in a misleading context; the first section of the video shows shoppers queuing outside a shoe shop in mainland China; the rest of the video shows guests queuing at a hotel in Macau. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) agreeing to file a legal challenge against Myanmar’s governing National League for Democracy party A video has been viewed more than one hundred thousand times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows members of an international Muslim organisation agreeing to file a legal challenge against Myanmar’s governing National League for Democracy party. The claim is false; the video actually shows members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) discussing emergency coronavirus grants for its member states in June 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Italy raided Vatican City and arrested scores of paedophile priests Social media posts circulating online in February 2021 have shared a purported report stating Italian law enforcement "arrested scores of paedophile cardinals" in Vatican City. The claim is false: the purported report is not a genuine news article. The text appears to have originated from a satirical blog post that used an unrelated photo of Italian police. Whilst two Catholic priests were put on trial in the Vatican in October 2020 over allegations of sex abuse, there have been no credible reports that "scores" of cardinals were arrested at the Vatican for sex abuse in February 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Filipino celebrity John Lapus denouncing communist groups A photo has been repeatedly shared in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim it shows a Filipino celebrity denouncing the Communist Party of the Philippines. The claim is false; the photo of the celebrity has been doctored from an earlier image that showed a different message. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Flurona is the latest variant of the coronavirus Social media posts claim "flurona" is a new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19. This is false; experts say the term refers to simultaneous but separate influenza and coronavirus infections rather than a new variant, and that such cases are rare but have been detected before. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Nigeria’s ex-chief accountant faking injury A video of a man wearing neck and back braces and walking with the aid of crutches has circulated widely on social media with claims that it shows Nigeria’s suspended chief accountant, Ahmed Idris, who is accused of money laundering. The posts allege that Idris pretended to suffer spinal cord injuries at a recent court hearing but was later caught on camera leading a prayer session without any support. However, AFP Fact Check found the video was filmed in 2021 and shows a Nigerian activist, not Idris. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Seven-year satellite data shows no CO2-driven warming A video viewed tens of thousands of times on social media claims that satellite data showed no net global warming for the past seven years and suggests that this means carbon dioxide emissions are not driving climate change. The claim is misleading; longer-term datasets from six world climate monitors show average temperatures have been rising for decades, and EU data showed the past seven years were the hottest ever recorded. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pineapple drinks are a natural remedy for Covid-19 A screenshot of a news report detailing research on a potential coronavirus treatment that involves pineapple plants has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook alongside photos of pineapple drinks. The posts suggest pineapple-based drinks could be a "natural remedy" for Covid-19. The claim is misleading: in August 2020, researchers in Australia studied a potential Covid-19 treatment that combined the pineapple enzyme with another agent; a researcher involved in the project told AFP in March 2021 that pineapple drinks “will not work” against Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Kentucky Derby's winning jockey rejected a White House invitation Social media posts claim Sonny Leon, jockey for 148th Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, rejected an invitation from the White House and insulted President Joe Biden. The claim is a recycled hoax; the jockey's agent said Leon never made those remarks and that he did not receive an invitation from the White House. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows sectarian assault on Hindu woman in India’s Kerala state Footage of a man assaulting a young woman has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it shows a Hindu woman being attacked in the Indian state of Kerala, where Hindus are a minority. The claim is false; this video has circulated online since 2017 in reports about a Hindu man assaulting his girlfriend in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Census data also shows that Hindus are not a minority in Kerala. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Plane crash killed people responding to train derailment in Ohio A plane crash that killed five environmental consulting firm employees spurred false claims online that the experts were responding to a February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. This is false; the passengers were traveling to investigate an unrelated factory explosion that occurred elsewhere in the US state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows the aftermath of a tropical storm in Myanmar A photo of a solitary figure surrounded by ruin and rubble has been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a town in Myanmar hit by a storm that made landfall on March 22, 2022. In fact, the picture shows the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which battered the central Philippines in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: List of employers where Covid shot is not mandatory A graphic published on Facebook in South Africa claims that Covid-19 vaccine mandates do not apply to staff at various federal US agencies, pharmaceutical companies and the World Health Organization (WHO). This is partly false; six of the seven entities listed in the graphic have made it mandatory for employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Only the WHO has abstained. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dubai renames Al Minhad district in honour of India and Hindus After Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum renamed a district "Hind City", social media posts in Hindu-majority India falsely claimed the move was to honour India and Hindus. The Dubai government's media office told AFP that the sheikh renamed the district in honour of his wife, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man set on fire in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, was a stuntman A video purportedly shows images of a man being set on fire has been viewed nearly 130,000 times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts and online articles alongside a narration that claims the person was in fact a stuntman acting out a scene. The claim is false; Hong Kong's Hospital Authority and police confirmed the man was critically injured in the fire; a Hong Kong media personality had admitted having recorded the audio track in the misleading video, and had since retracted his remarks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows Indian PM Modi refusing chair to sit on the floor with students A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Chinese-language social media posts that claim it shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refusing a chair to sit on the floor with "students" at a rally. The posts drew comments criticising Chinese leader Xi Jinping for not being more like Modi. But the claim shared with the video is misleading; multiple news reports state it shows Modi sitting on the floor with construction workers at the inauguration of a renovated Hindu temple complex. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: UN plane parked in Canada is related to the Ottawa protest Social media posts suggest a United Nations plane was used to fly in security forces who removed anti-vaccine mandate protesters from Canada's capital. But Ottawa police say only Canadian officers were involved, and an aircraft service company says the plane had been undergoing maintenance for weeks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video of communal violence in India during Hindu festival in April 2022 A video of angry crowds throwing projectiles in the street has been viewed more than one million times in Facebook and YouTube posts that claim it shows Muslims disrupting Hindu new year celebrations in Rajasthan, India in April 2022. While there were genuine reports of attacks on Hindus taking part in a new year parade in the state, the footage has actually circulated online since 2016 in reports about religious clashes in Punjab. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows aftermath of floods in Indonesia in February 2021 A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim that it shows the aftermath of floods that hit a residential area on the outskirts of Jakarta in February 2021. The claim is misleading; the scenes in the footage match with videos showing the aftermath of floods in Bekasi, near Jakarta, in January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Taiwan authorities impose strict immigrtation restrictions on Hong Kong citizens A purported list of immigration restrictions imposed by the Taiwanese Justice Ministry on "Hong Kong citizens" has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts in June 2020. The posts claim Taiwan will only accept immigration applications from those with "immediate family in Taiwan" or who are "professionals" or "significant investors". The claim is misleading; in response to the posts, a spokesperson for Taiwan's National Immigration Agency told AFP on June 30, 2020 there was "no such information" in their guidelines; the Taiwanese Mainland Affairs Council website lists several other conditions for settlement status eligibility, including religious work and political asylum. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Top reasons not to fear Covid-19 A video titled “Canadian Doctors Speak Out,” which claims to offer the top reasons not to fear Covid-19, has been shared thousands of times on social media. But public health experts said it includes misleading claims about variants of the disease and immunity, and recommends treatments that have not been proven effective against the virus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Root canal can shut down 63 percent of your immune system Social media posts claim that root canal treatment is dangerous to the immune system. This is false; dental experts say the procedure -- which leaves a treated tooth in place, allowing a patient to maintain their natural smile and avoid costly implants -- is not linked to systemic disease, and can eliminate the cause of pain or swelling in the mouth. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Members of K-pop boy band BTS die in a plane crash A photo of a plane crash has circulated in social media posts along with a claim that members of South Korean boy band BTS have been killed in a plane crash. The claim is false; BTS has remained active on social media since the publication of the social media posts. The photo actually shows a private jet carrying American pawn shop employees that crashed in Honduras in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Bill Gates is connected to a "mysterious egg shortage" Articles and social media posts are connecting Bill Gates to egg shortages in the US. This is misleading; while the billionaire is the country's biggest private owner of farmland, a global avian flu outbreak is the primary culprit for the dearth of eggs. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Australia bombed Indonesia over Ashmore Reef Multiple videos that have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube and Facebook falsely claim Indonesia and Australia are at war over the ownership of Ashmore Reef on the maritime border of the two countries. There have been no official reports that the two countries are at war, as of December 17, 2022. Indonesia's foreign ministry officials have said Ashmore Reef belongs to Australia. The posts also share videos in a false context. Voiceovers in the clips read news reports that are not related to the purported conflict, often altering original reports to include words such as "Indonesia" and "Australia". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: China develops COVID-19 vaccine An image has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows China administering the "world's first new coronavirus vaccine" after the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is misleading; the photos in this image have circulated in reports about China testing a potential COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video claims Bongbong Marcos is new Philippine vice president A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook, TikTok and YouTube posts claims a newspaper reported that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the new Philippine vice president. The claim is false; the article referenced in the video does not report Marcos Jr. is new vice president, it actually reads that the Philippine Supreme Court ordered proceedings in the ongoing election dispute between Marcos Jr. and sitting Vice President Leni Robredo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tokyo Tower was damaged by a massive explosion A Korean-language YouTube video with more than 250,000 views has been shared in Facebook posts that claim the iconic Tokyo Tower in Japan was damaged by a massive explosion on May 29, 2022. However, the claim is false; a spokesperson from the company that operates the tower told AFP no such explosion occurred. There have been no reports or official announcements about any major accident in the vicinity of the tower. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Those who have stroke won't be able to stand on one foot for more than 20 seconds A video viewed hundreds of thousands of times recommends standing on one leg to diagnose stroke. The claim is misleading: while research suggests the ability to balance on one leg is an indicator of brain health, neurologists told AFP it was not a reliable way to diagnose a stroke. They said anyone with symptoms such as difficulty speaking; facial drooping; or weak limbs; should seek urgent medical help. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ex-Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari names Arshad Sharif's killers A video of former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari giving a press conference has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts with the false claim that he mentioned the names of "the killers" of a Pakistani journalist who was shot dead by police in Kenya in October 2022. The original video was in fact broadcast live in May 2022, which predates the journalist's killing by several months. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Texas pastor Joel Osteen failed to provide shelter from winter cold Social media posts shared thousands of times claim Texas pastor Joel Osteen has not opened his massive Lakewood Church to those in need of shelter, despite a big freeze paralyzing the state. This is false; both the church and the city of Houston have said the facility is being used for that purpose. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: North Korea decided to send troops to Ukraine to support Russia Social media posts claim North Korea has decided to send troops to Ukraine to support Russia, citing a report by Russian state media. However, the report makes no mention of North Korea sending troops to Ukraine. There have been no official reports or statements to support the claim, as of April 26. North Korean experts told AFP it was "highly unlikely" that Pyongyang would deploy troops to Ukraine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Michael R Taylor is the Deputy Commissioner of the FDA Multiple Facebook posts claim that a former vice president of US agribusiness Monsanto is also the "current Deputy Commissioner" of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The posts -- shared repeatedly online in August 2021 -- shared two identical photos of US lawyer Michael R Taylor. The claim is misleading: Taylor stepped down from his role at the FDA in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Russian forces carrying away Ukrainian tanks A video of military helicopters hoisting tanks into the air has been viewed millions of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Russian attack on a military base in Ukraine. The clip circulated as Russia intensified attacks in Ukraine. However, the footage actually shows a military exercise in the Netherlands in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Aspirin, lemon juice and honey mixture as home remedy for COVID-19 Multiple Facebook posts claim that aspirin, lemon juice and honey have been combined to make a "home remedy" for COVID-19 in Italy. The claim is misleading; the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against self-medicating for COVID-19, saying there is no current medicine that can effectively treat the disease; official guidance released by the Italian Ministry of Health about the coronavirus does not mention the purported home remedy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Donald Trump’s second impeachment means he loses a substantial pension, a travel allowance, Secret Service protection, and the “ability to run in 2024.” Social media posts shared thousands of times claim that Donald Trump’s second impeachment means he loses a substantial pension, a travel allowance, Secret Service protection, and the “ability to run in 2024.” This is false; experts say none of the claimed consequences would apply without further action by the Senate, and that he is entitled to Secret Service protection regardless. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenyan deputy president visits a witch doctor Two images of Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto donned in traditional attire have been shared multiple times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that he sought divine power from witch doctors ahead of the 2022 general elections. But this is false: the photos were taken at an annual cultural festival in Turkana County in December 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows human-animal chimera A disturbing image that appears to show creatures with both human and animal features has been shared in Facebook posts about scientists in Japan performing genetic experiments. However, the posts are misleading; while the Japanese government approved the first human-animal embryo experiments in 2019, the image shows an art installation by an Australian artist. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thai doctor urges public to self-isolate from Lambda strain outbreak A message circulating on Facebook, Twitter and Line claims a doctor at Thailand's largest hospital warned people in the kingdom to stay indoors after medics recorded an outbreak of a Covid-19 variant known as Lambda. The claim is false: as of August 26, 2021, the Thai Department of Disease Control said no outbreak of the Lambda variant had been recorded in the kingdom. The hospital that employs the doctors cited in the posts said he had not issued the purported warning. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: EU warns Uganda’s Bobi Wine over swearing-in ceremony Posts sharing a letter purportedly sent by the European Union (EU) to Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine claiming to warn him against swearing himself in as president have been shared more than a dozen times on Facebook and Twitter. The claim is false; the document, which does not appear on any of the EU's official online channels, was rejected as a fake by officials in the organisation’s Ugandan office. Wine had previousy dismissed rumours that he was planning an inauguration ceremony in parallel to the official event. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indonesia news outlet promotes a shaman who pulls money out of thin air Facebook posts promoting a fake cash giveaway have shared a doctored news report that appears to endorse "a shaman who pulls money out of thin air". The video has racked up tens of thousands of views. The false posts share snippets from an old news report and unrelated YouTube clips that are edited to add a computer-generated voiceover. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Still No Evidence Rwanda'S President Ordered Deportation Of 18 Chinese Nationals After Claim Resurfaces: Rwanda's president orders deportation of 18 Chinese nationals Posts claiming that Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the deportation of 18 Chinese nationals for mistreating local workers have resurfaced online. AFP Fact Check debunked the same claim in 2020 and found no evidence backing up the allegations. To this day, there is still no public record of such an order and representatives of both the Rwandan and Chinese governments have confirmed the incident never happened. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Footage of attack by Muslims in Rangpur on Hindu temples A video of a building engulfed in flames has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows an attack on Hindu houses and temples in Bangladesh's northern district of Rangpur. The posts circulated online after Bangladesh witnessed a wave of violence targeting religious minorities. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it previously circulated in news reports about a fire at a Hindu temple in India’s Tripura region. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Painting of Hindu deity is in Panjshir, Afghanistan An image has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows a painting of a Hindu deity displayed at a palace in Afghanistan's Panjshir province. The claim circulated online after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan and vowed to impose Islamic sharia law. The claim is misleading: the painting was created by a Russian artist who told AFP it has no connection to Afghanistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Boy cleans blood-stained floor after his family was killed in Gaza An image of a boy in a green sweater cleaning a blood-smeared floor has been shared multiples times on Facebook and Twitter alongside captions claiming that it shows a Palestinian child mopping up the blood of his family members who were killed in Gaza. The claim is false; the photo has been online since 2012 and is unrelated to the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC said cigarette smoking doesn't cause cancer in 1958 Multiple Facebook posts shared hundreds of times claim that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in 1958 that smoking did not cause cancer. The claim is false; by 1958, the US government’s stance was that smoking was a causative factor to lung cancer; a keyword search for the purported statement from the CDC yielded no results. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of an Apple Daily Hong Kong press pass and a note in support of police. An image purporting to show a handwritten pro-police note on top of a press pass from Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside a lengthy text caption. The caption is supposedly a "letter" from an Apple Daily reporter questioning the paper's impartiality during recent protests in the city. But the image has been doctored to include the note and the pass is from Apple Daily’s Taiwan bureau – not Hong Kong. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Fulani killings Abuja-Jos road Nigeria A Facebook post shared tens of thousands of times claims to show the scene of killings carried out by Fulani herders on the Abuja-Jos road in central Nigeria. This is false; the photos were taken at the scene of the abduction of a traditional chief in Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, in 2018 -- not on the Abuja-Jos road. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Russian civilians honouring Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine In the days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a video circulated online alongside the claim it showed Russian civilians honouring their soldiers killed in the conflict. However, the claim is false. The video is clipped from one posted in 2015, which says it shows Ukrainians paying their respects to soldiers who died fighting in the country's eastern Donbas region in 2015. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Former Kenyan leader speaks out after family farm invaded A video of Kenya's former president Uhuru Kenyatta is being shared in Facebook and TikTok posts claiming to show him giving an address after his family’s farm was invaded amid anti-government protests in March 2023. But the claim is false: the video is old and was recorded when Kenyatta was still the head of state. He has not yet publicly spoken about the incident on his farm. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows elephant stopping vehicles in Cambodia A video of an elephant stopping trucks on a road in Thailand has been misleadingly shared in Facebook and Twitter posts about Cambodia. AFP tracked down the original footage from a YouTube user who said the clip was filmed in Chachoengsao province, east of Bangkok. A road sign seen in the video and the fact the vehicles are driving on the left side of the road also show the encounter took place in Thailand. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Ukraine President’s wife in military uniform Following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, a photo of a woman dressed in military fatigues was shared hundreds of times in social media posts that claimed she is "the wife of the elected president of Ukraine". This is false: the photo shows a Ukrainian soldier during a military parade rehearsal in August 2021. As of March 11, 2022, there have been no official reports that the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has been directly involved in armed combat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This image of an elephant-shaped mountain is a composite created by Polish artist Mirekis An image has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook in Ethiopia alongside a claim that it shows a real mountain cliff shaped like an elephant. But this is false: AFP Fact Check found that the image was digitally created by Polish artist Mirekis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows crackdown in Uganda following 2021 election Footage of Ugandan security forces firing shots and using tear gas to disperse protesters have been shared multiple times in social media posts across Africa claiming to capture the aftermath of the country’s 2021 presidential poll. But this is false; the video comes from a 2018 television broadcast showing Ugandan police and opposition protesters clashing in the capital Kampala and several other cities in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Aluminum in Gardasil 9 vaccine is "toxic" An Instagram post with thousands of likes opposes plans for a Gardasil 9 vaccine mandate in California, claiming the jab is dangerous because it contains aluminum and polysorbate 80. This is misleading; the small doses of those compounds have been tested for safety, and public health authorities approved the shot as an effective way to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Turkish soldiers arriving in Jerusalem A post with a video viewed thousand of times on Facebook and TikTok purports to show Turkish soldiers arriving at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem amid the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But the claim is false: while the clip is of Turkish soldiers, it was taken in 2018 when the country sent troops to Syria to fight Kurdish forces. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of cash stockpile for Nigerian primary election Footage of a man taking stacks of dollar bills out of a suitcase has been shared on social media in Nigeria with claims that it shows members of the country’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) preparing cash ahead of a primary election. However, the claim is false: the video clip has been circulating online for more than three years and first emerged in Sudan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: US shoppers can order baby formula directly from Amazon Canada Social media posts claim that shoppers desperate to get baby formula amid US shortages should turn to Amazon Canada for cross-border delivery. But this is not a reliable solution; many formula products sold in Canada by the online retailing giant are out of stock, unavailable for shipping to the states or on offer from third-party vendors charging above market prices. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden pardoned 2,617 BLM protesters Thousands of Facebook users shared a headline claiming that President Joe Biden “quietly” pardoned 2,617 Black Lives Matter protesters. This is false; the claim was originally published on a self-proclaimed satirical website, and the Office of the Pardon Attorney told AFP Biden has not yet granted clemency to anyone. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Atiku Abubakar steps down to back Peter Obi Separate claims that two rival presidential candidates stepped down mid-election to back each other instead surfaced on social media as Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new leader. But these claims are false: neither candidate – Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – had retired from the presidential race by the time polls officially closed on voting day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Australian firefighters celebrate rainfall during bushfires in January 2020 A video has been viewed millions of times in Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram posts in January 2020 that claim it shows firefighters celebrating rainfall during the Australian bushfires. The claim is misleading; the video has circulated online since at least November 2019; a spokesperson for the Australian fire service seen in the video told AFP it was filmed on November 25, 2019, tallying with weather data from the same day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Afghan child rescued after earthquake in June 2022 A photo of a boy has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Pakistani social media posts that claim he was rescued from the rubble of a deadly earthquake that struck Afghanistan in June 2022. However, the photo has been shared in a false context; it has circulated online since 2015 in reports about the Yemen conflict. The photographer told AFP he took the image in Yemen in 2015, after Houthi rebels destroyed the boy's home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: African women being sold at a slave market in Libya Widely shared Facebook posts claim that two African women pictured in the back of a pick-up truck and surrounded by soldiers are examples of slaves being sold at a market in Libya. In reality, however, the picture snapped by a Reuters photographer in December 2016 shows women and children - some of them migrants - who were freed from the besieged city of Sirte when Libyan forces ousted Islamic State fighters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nancy Pelosi arrested, under US Marshals supervision Social media posts claim Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was arrested and is under the supervision of US Marshals, providing a photo of her surrounded by a security detail in the US Capitol as evidence. But both Pelosi’s office and the US Marshals Service said the claim is inaccurate, and the image does not show her in custody. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hindu groom demands dowry from bride's family A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim that it shows a groom in Hindu-majority India who refused to get married unless his bride's family paid him a dowry. Giving or receiving dowries in India has been illegal since 1961, but the practice is still widespread and rarely prosecuted. However, the video has been shared in a misleading context; it does not show a real-life event. The clip's director told AFP that he created it to raise awareness about the practice of giving dowries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Receive free infant formula by calling Enfamil, Similac customer service Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim baby nutrition brands Enfamil and Similac are connecting families who call their US customer service lines to free products. This is false; the companies are not offering free formula, as supply remains scarce amid a nationwide shortage. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: GlucoPro can eradicate diabetes in 7 weeks Facebook posts shared thousands of times falsely claim scientists in Myanmar have discovered an "easy way to control blood sugar". The posts link to an article that advertises unregistered supplement called "GlucoPro" as a drug to cure diabetes in just seven weeks. However, health experts say there is no evidence "GlucoPro" can cure diabetes or any other health conditions and that the sites were likely trying make money selling a bogus product. The article features a photo of a Thai doctor who told AFP she did not endorse the drug. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook is banning US President Donald Trump from advertising for his 2020 re-election campaign A Facebook post shared more than 400,000 times claims the platform is banning US President Donald Trump from advertising for his 2020 re-election campaign. This is false, the Facebook advertisement library yields thousands of ad results from the Trump campaign, and a company spokeswoman said they are not banning the president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Nigerian deputy governor’s son at opposition rally Following a campaign rally held in Lagos on October 1, 2022, for Nigerian opposition politician and presidential candidate Peter Obi, supporters shared photos online showing the crowds that attended. One picture was tweeted with a claim that it showed the son of Lagos state deputy governor Obafemi Hamzat joining the “Obedient family” — the nickname given to Obi’s supporters. But this is false; the person in the photo is a known supporter of Obi and he is not related to Hamzat. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Super typhoon to hit the Philippines after Typhoon Rai in December 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that claim a "new super typhoon" was forecast to hit the Philippines days after Typhoon Rai tore through the archipelago in December, killing hundreds of people. In fact, the video shows a forecast for a weather disturbance that Philippine meteorologists initially said had a "low chance of becoming a typhoon" but eventually dissipated on December 23, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows indigenous Australians protesting against forced vaccinations A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows indigenous Australians defending themselves with bows and arrows against compulsory Covid-19 vaccinations. The claim is false: the video predates the pandemic. It shows indigenous groups in Brazil protesting in 2019 against a proposal to transfer indigenous health services from the federal government to municipalities. Covid-19 vaccination is only compulsory at a national level for certain key workers in Australia, as of October 27, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mass grave found in Ethiopia Ancient Greece (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Benjamin Diokno berating Karen Davila A video with tens of thousands of views claims an incoming member of Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr's cabinet "shamed" a journalist on national television for allegedly attacking Marcos. But the video had been digitally manipulated, and an AFP review of journalist Karen Davila's actual interview with incoming finance chief Benjamin Diokno found the video's claim is fabricated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan remained seated as Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in June 2019 An image of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that during a June 2019 summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek he remained seated as other leaders stood to greet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The claim is false; Netanyahu did not attend the summit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show "two-faced" Edward Mordake Facebook posts have surfaced purporting to show photos of a nineteenth-century "two-faced man" called Edward Mordake. The claim is false; the three photos actually depict works of art, not a real man. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Kamala Harris was photographed with Jeffrey Epstein Social media posts with thousands of interactions include a photo tying US Vice President Kamala Harris to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But a reverse image search found that the photograph has been digitally manipulated to include Epstein instead of Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US actor Leonardo DiCaprio pictured standing next to his 'son' An image showing US actor Leonardo DiCaprio standing next to a younger man who strongly resembles him has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside claims that it shows the star with his son. The claim is false; the picture has been doctored and the ‘son’ is in fact DiCaprio himself in 1994. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images of train toilet shows plight of sanitation in Sri Lankan railways Two images of a dirty toilet have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim they show a toilet on a Sri Lankan train in July 2020. The images, however, have been shared in a misleading context; the Facebook user who first uploaded the photos said he took them in 2018; Sri Lankan railway officials said its train toilets have since been updated. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lanka's LPL ranked as biggest global sporting event of 2020 A purported news article has been shared in multiple Facebook posts which claim the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was “ranked the biggest global sporting event of 2020”. The claim circulated online after the final match of the franchise cricket tournament of 2020. The claim is misleading; the purported article provided no evidence to support the claim and was not published on an official news site. There is no official ranking system for world sporting events, however, most large sporting events were cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenya president negotiating for loans in the UK Original notebook cover has no text (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Emmanuel Macron was slapped for violating Covid-19 sanitary protocols Posts circulating in several African countries claim that French president Emmanuel Macron was slapped across the face for not respecting social distancing and other restrictions in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19. According to the social media posts, Damien Tarel, the man who slapped France’s leader, was given only a three-month prison sentence and a fine of 1,500 euros because Macron broke social distancing protocols. This is false. Although Tarel slapped the French president, it was not because Macron violated social distancing protocols, and Tarel’s lawyer did not present any such argument in court. Furthermore, the man was handed an 18-month prison sentence, 14 of which were suspended. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Fulanis captured and weapons seized in Nigeria Nigeria in recent years has seen an uptick in deadly clashes between extremists from nomadic Fulani communities and locals, including in the country's southeast where separatists fuel calls for secession with incendiary claims. A recent Facebook post purports to show photos of “two Fulani terrorist kidnappers” and weapons seized from them. But the claim is false: one of the images is of two men attacked in Kenyan gang violence this year, the other of weapons seized in Kenya in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: South Korea PM warns anyone who refuses to receive Covid-19 vaccinations will be arrested A fabricated news report shared repeatedly on Facebook states South Korea's Prime Minister threatened to arrest citizens who refuse to receive a Covid-19 vaccination. The report, however, is not a genuine article from a South Korean media outlet. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Secretariat told AFP on February 17, 2021, that he made no such comments about Covid-19 vaccinations. The South Korean media outlet that was imitated in the Facebook posts said it did not publish the purported report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Confirmed coronavirus cases in Calgary and Edmonton Canadian Facebook posts claim the novel coronavirus has reached the western province of Alberta, with confirmed cases in Edmonton and Calgary. This is false; provincial health officials said there are no confirmed cases within their jurisdiction. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Federal Reserve is owned by a small group of banking families Social media posts claim the US Federal Reserve is a "cartel" owned by a small group of banks and banking families. This is false; the US central bank is an independent agency created by Congress, the regional Fed banks are public-private entities within the Federal Reserve System, and it is legally required to turn over profits from lending operations to the Treasury. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows bubonic plague containment efforts in China A photo of four people wearing protective clothing on a street has been shared hundreds of times alongside a claim it shows Chinese authorities responding to new cases of bubonic plague detected in Inner Mongolia in July 2020. The image has been shared in a misleading context; it is actually an AFP photo that shows soldiers spraying disinfectant in South Korea during the coronavirus pandemic; the other three images in the post do not directly relate to the recently detected cases of bubonic plague. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video has circulated online since at least November 2015 A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim it shows an interview that Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar army, conducted in 2020. The claim is false; this video actually shows a 2015 interview with the senior general. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show scene from Thai anti-government protest in 2021 As anti-government demonstrations swept Thailand in August 2021, photos surfaced in social media posts claiming they showed police officers beating a protester in the street. The claim is false: the photos show police hitting and kicking a suspect in Bangkok in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of ISIS member who became a refugee in Europe Photographs shared hundreds of times on social media purport to show an ex-Islamic State group fighter now living as a refugee in Europe. The man in the picture is actually a former Iraqi militia member who fought against IS and was expelled from Finland for war crimes in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of a boat accident that killed 139 people in Indonesia in 2022 A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook and blog posts in 2022 alongside a claim it shows a recent sinking of a boat that killed 139 people in the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. But the photo has been shared in a false context: it has circulated in news reports about a ferry disaster in 2018 in Indonesia that killed at least 35 people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video shows tornado in Libya. A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook that claim it shows a storm in Libya. The same footage was also viewed in posts on Pinterest, Instagram, Reddit and Bilibili which suggested it shows a real weather phenomenon. The claim is false; the footage is actually a digital animation created by a 3D designer, who originally published it on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram in June 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Images showing skin problems after wearing a mask Five images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim they show images of people suffering from skin problems that have been caused by wearing face masks. The claim is misleading; three of the images show cases of chickenpox, eczema, and rosacea unrelated to wearing face masks, while the other two relate to wearing face masks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian media The Wire apologises after losing defamation case against Home Minister’s son Jay Shah Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared a text message in Hindi that claims Indian news website The Wire has tendered an “apology” after “losing a defamation case against Jay Shah”, son of the minister of Home Affairs, in the Supreme Court. The claim is false; The Wire denied offering the alleged apology and told AFP the trial in the defamation case has not yet started. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: PH president's spokesman Roque encouraged future officials to steal Facebook posts shared hundreds of times attribute a quote to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque, claiming he told critics to "win an election first to get your chance to steal". The claim is false; the posts show a fabricated news graphic based on a press conference where Roque never made such remarks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Indian politician Mamata Banerjee secretly visits Muslim shrine A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows Indian politician Mamata Banerjee making a "secret" visit to a Muslim shrine. The posts go on to claim that Banerjee was "deceiving Hindus" as she seeks re-election in ongoing polls in West Bengal. The claim is misleading: Banerjee's visit to the shrine was streamed live on her official Facebook page and reported by local media. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows tsunami at Syrian coast after Turkey-Syria earthquake A video of strong waves hitting a beach has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a tsunami hitting the Syrian coast following a devastating earthquake that shook the war-torn country and neighbouring Turkey in February 2023. The clip has in fact been shared online as early as January and shows high surf at Mission Beach in the US city of San Diego. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of protest against election postponement in 2022 A video has been watched tens of thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts alongside a claim that it shows students protesting in the western Indonesian city of Palembang in April 2022. But while hundreds of students recently protested in Palembang against rumoured plans to postpone the next Indonesian elections, the video has been shared in a false context. The clip has circulated online since 2019 in posts about students protesting in Palembang against changes in the country's anti-corruption law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Mexico banned 'chemtrails' A video shared across social media claims Mexico has banned "chemtrails," suggesting this confirms the widespread conspiracy theory that the skies are being sprayed with chemicals to harm people. The claim is false; the Mexican government in January announced steps to stop experiments that involve putting particles into the atmosphere, but did not endorse the chemtrails theory which has been widely debunked. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Ethiopian nanny who killed two children After news of a woman accused of killing two children in Ethiopia emerged in early September, social media in the country was awash with an image purporting to show the suspect. However, AFP Fact Check found that this is an old photo; it shows a woman who was detained by Ethiopian police in 2018 on suspicion of carrying explosives during a ceremony to welcome political activist Jawar Mohammed back home from exile. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows child caught in Israel-Hamas crossfire Multiple Facebook posts have shared an image that they claim shows a child caught in the Israel-Hamas crossfire. The claim is false: the image shows a child wounded in a military campaign in Syria in October 2012. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook posts claim that Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has been recognised by 43 countries as “mother of the world”. Three photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and on blogs alongside a claim that Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has been recognised by 43 countries as “mother of the world”. The claim is false; the images show coins with Aung San Suu Kyi’s image created by a Burmese artist; as of August 2020, there was no international award for “mother of the world”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Midterm elections were stolen from Republicans via fraud In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump on November 8, 2022 claimed midterm elections were being stolen from Republicans, accusing vote officials of enabling fraud. The allegations do not stand up; despite some isolated problems at several polling sites, voting proceeded. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows new Mercedes procured by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa An photo showing Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa exiting a vehicle and two photos of a Mercedes-Maybach S650 sedan have been shared in multiple Facebook posts in October 2020 alongside claims that they show a vehicle newly procured by the government. The posts add that such money should have been spent on coronavirus testing equipment. The claim, however, is misleading; the Mercedes-Maybach S650 photos are from stock promotional content and Rajapaksa’s office stated that no new vehicles have been procured for the presidential fleet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Police officer rest during 2019 Hong Kong protests A photo of resting police officers in front of a crowd of demonstrators has been shared widely in Facebook, Weibo, Instagram and Twitter posts as well as media articles that link the image to recent protests in Hong Kong. The image is being used in a misleading context; it is actually a 2014 AFP photo that shows an earlier outbreak of civil unrest in the city. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows US military plane crashed in Afghanistan Multiple posts on Facebook shared an image of a burning aircraft along with a claim that it shows a US military plane that crashed in Afghanistan in the wake of Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021. The claim is false; the image actually shows a controlled detonation of a damaged US military aircraft at an air base in Iraq in 2008. There are no credible reports about an airplane crashed in recent weeks in Afghanistan. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Protesters in Sri Lanka fly kites to disrupt flight path of army helicopter A photo has circulated in Facebook posts that claim it shows anti-government demonstrators in Sri Lanka flying kites to disrupt a military helicopter hovering above a protest site in the capital Colombo in mid-July. But the image, shared thousands of times, has circulated in a misleading context. It was actually taken at a kite festival in Colombo in 2016, years before the current unrest. A journalist who was at the protest site told AFP the protesters did not fly kites to disrupt the aircraft. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of electric bus explosion in China A video has been viewed more than 50,000 times in Facebook and YouTube posts which claim it shows an electric bus exploding in mainland China. The claim is false; the video actually shows two buses on fire in Santiago, Chile during violent protests in October 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Image shows light projection at protest site in Sri Lanka As Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced calls to resign over a crippling economic crisis, Facebook posts shared a photo of a message telling the leader to "go home" that they claim was beamed into the sky over the capital Colombo. However, the image was doctored from a photo of an art installation that was unveiled in Australia in 2005. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows sonic weapon China uses against Indian soldiers in Ladakh A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in posts that claim it shows a "super loudspeaker" that the Chinese military is deploying against Indian soldiers in Ladakh. The claim is misleading: the video is actually four-year-old footage of a Chinese air-raid siren. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Rescue excavator falls into ravine in Murree, Pakistan in January 2022 Social media posts circulating in Pakistan in January 2022 have shared a video showing an excavator truck falling into a snow-filled ravine after attempting to pull out an SUV. Some posts suggest the footage was filmed during a recent deadly blizzard in Pakistan's mountain resort town of Murree. This is misleading: the video has circulated online since at least 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Antifa is planning a flag burning ceremony at Gettysburg National Ceremony on July 4 Claims of a plot by Antifa to attack white suburbs and the Gettysburg National Cemetery have proliferated on Facebook ahead of US Independence Day. Police, however, said they had no evidence that plans for such an attack exist, and a local official said the social media posts bear the hallmark of a similar claim from 2017 that proved to be false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: Elon Musk suspended Bill Gates from Twitter Facebook posts claim Bill Gates was suspended from Twitter by fellow billionaire Elon Musk, who recently reached a deal to take over the social media company. But Twitter says it has not taken action against Gates' account, which is still online. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trapdoor spider’s bite kills in five minutes Images of a brown spider are circulating in social media posts claiming that it is “very poisonous” and warning beachgoers that its “sting” could kill humans in five minutes. However, the claim is false; the photos show a type of trapdoor spider, which experts say is not dangerous to humans. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Acting US ambassador to Afghanistan fled the country in August 2021 A tweet liked more than 23,000 times claims that Ross Wilson, the acting US ambassador to Afghanistan, fled as Taliban insurgents seized control of the country. But Wilson denied the accusation when it surfaced, and the US only suspended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan as the American military completed its withdrawal two weeks later. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Monash University study found ivermectin effective against Covid-19 (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Clinton Foundation cargo ship raided at the Port of Baltimore? A screenshot of a purported news article claiming that a cargo ship owned by the Clinton Foundation was raided at a port in the US city of Baltimore has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook. The posts, however, are misleading; the article is from a self-described satirical website and the Clinton Foundation told AFP it does not own any cargo ships. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows aerial view of Mount Kailash A video showing an aerial view of a snow-capped mountain peak has been shared and viewed thousands of times on Facebook with a claim that it shows Mount Kailash in Tibet, China. This claim is false. The video actually shows Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows a Hong Kong church sheltering “rioters” A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim that it shows “rioters” taking shelter at a church in Hong Kong. The claim is false; the photo actually shows homeless people sheltering at a church in Vancouver, Canada. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Person in this video is chief of Taliban praising India's BJP and RSS A video has been shared repeatedly in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Taliban leader in Afghanistan praising India’s ruling political party and a right-wing Hindu group. The claim is false: the footage -- which has circulated online since 2019 -- shows a Pakistan-based Islamic cleric discussing the origins of the political party and the Hindu group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Holding your breath is a test for novel coronavirus and drinking water every 15 minutes can prevent the illness Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that holding your breath for more than 10 seconds is an effective test for the novel coronavirus, and that drinking water regularly can prevent the disease. The claims are false; the World Health Organization and other experts said there was no evidence to support these claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image shows Sri Lankan politicians meeting with IMF delegation Shortly after bankrupt Sri Lanka began talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an image was repeatedly shared in Facebook and WhatsApp posts that criticised the behaviour of the island nation's officials during the meeting. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it has circulated in reports about a meeting between a group of Sri Lankan opposition officials and Russian diplomats -- not the IMF delegation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: News report about China "restoring planned economic system" A screenshot of a Chinese state media report shared repeatedly online has been doctored to add a line announcing that China will restore a more centrally controlled economy. The image circulated after the country hit some of its biggest companies with new restrictions and regulations. It has been manipulated from a 2018 article that did not report the Chinese government had announced a shift in economic policy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: People of the Hunza Valley live cancer-free because they consume apricot seeds which kill cancer cells Multiple Facebook posts claim people living in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley are cancer-free because they consume apricot seeds which allegedly “kill cancer cells”. The posts are misleading: health experts say apricot seeds are not effective in preventing or treating cancer. The claim about Hunza Valley people living "without cancer" was debunked decades ago by researchers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: ICC prosecutor throws out case against Kenya’s deputy leader Facebook posts claiming that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has “thrown out” a case against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto have been shared hundreds of times. But the claim is false: the case against Ruto in which he is accused of crimes against humanity collapsed in 2016 and there is no record of new proceedings against him at the Hague-based tribunal. The office of the prosecutor confirmed to AFP Fact Check that Karim Khan – who was Ruto’s lawyer during his trial – recused himself from all Kenya-linked ICC cases after he was elected the tribunal's chief prosecutor in 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Philippine VP Leni Robredo warns of chaos if she loses in 2022 polls As incumbent Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo battles to close the gap with her arch-rival for the country's top job Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a purported news graphic claiming she warned of chaos if she were to lose the May 9 polls was shared hundreds of times on social media. However, the news organisation whose logo appears on the graphic has denied creating it. Robredo has also denied she ever made the claim, and AFP found no credible record of her issuing the warning. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Warm coconut water kills cancer cells Facebook posts circulating in Sri Lanka have repeatedly shared purported advice from a leading cancer treatment facility that claims coconut water can cure the disease. Experts told AFP the claim is not backed by credible scientific evidence; and the Tata Memorial Hospital in India has previously warned it did not issue the "fake" message. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Myanmar army armoured vehicle attacked in Sagaing in 2021 A photo has been shared hundreds of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows a Myanmar military armoured vehicle attacked by anti-coup rebels on November 1, 2021. The claim is false: the photo has circulated in reports about an Israeli tank that flipped over during a training exercise in December 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Smoking prevents novel coronavirus infection Multiple Facebook posts claim the World Health Organization (WHO) has said smoking prevents people from getting infected with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The claim is false; the WHO says smoking does not protect a person from COVID-19 infection and warns it can actually cause health conditions that increase the risk of severe coronavirus illness. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Taliban leader drinking whisky in private jet A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple social media posts that claim it shows a Taliban leader drinking whisky on a private jet. The claim is false: the photo has been digitally altered to include the whisky bottle, and the man pictured is a Pakistani politician. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows competition between US and Pakistani army A video has been viewed more than a million times in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it shows Pakistani army officers winning a military competition against US army officers. The claim is false; this footage actually shows an event in the 60th World Military Pentathlon Championship held in Brazil in 2013, which neither Pakistan nor the US participated in. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke to an empty crowd at the UN Two photos have been shared repeatedly on Facebook alongside a claim they show South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivering a speech to an empty room at the United Nations General Assembly. The claim, however, is misleading. The images were taken during a preceding event at the UN building addressing climate change. Moon delivered a keynote address at the General Assembly one day later in front of a crowd of delegates. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Viruses never mutate and variants are a result of human interference Facebook posts shared in South Korea claim that only man-made viruses can mutate. The claim circulated online as variants of SARS-CoV-2 spread throughout the world. The claim is false: naturally occurring viruses often mutate, according to health experts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Two children in Guinea died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. A YouTube video shared hundreds of times has resurfaced with an old claim that two children in Guinea died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. This is false; the video was based on a news report about Guinean children who fell ill in March 2019 after taking anti-parasite drugs. AFP Fact Check previously debunked this claim in May 2020, months before any Covid-19 vaccine contenders had been approved. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria imposes curfew to allow China to mount 5G masts A post shared hundreds of times on Facebook claims that the Nigerian presidency imposed a curfew to allow Chinese companies to build 5G masts. This is false; the curfew is aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Authorities say 5G licences have not been issued to any firms in Nigeria -- Chinese or otherwise. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixture: Photo shows Conservatives voting to reopen abortion debate A photo shared on Twitter and Facebook claims to show Conservative Party of Canada members voting in favor of reopening the abortion debate. This is misleading. Conservative Party members did win such a vote at the party’s convention in Halifax in 2018, but the proposal was voted down when it was considered by the party’s national delegates. The Conservatives have been criticized for being ambiguous on the topic, but official party policy does not question the legality of abortion. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Philippines lifts coronavirus restrictions on basketball games in November 2020 for entire country Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook claim the Philippine government lifted coronavirus restrictions on village basketball games in November 2020. The claim is misleading; the graphic shared in the posts was issued by a city government in central Philippines and does not apply to the entire country; as of December 1, 2020, the Philippine government does not allow non-professional basketball games under its coronavirus restrictions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered: Photos show US Congresswoman Lauren Boebert reaching for a man's crotch Images spreading online appear to show US Congresswoman Lauren Boebert reaching for the crotches of various men as she poses for pictures with them. But the images are not genuine; they were digitally manipulated by a graphic artist who says he created them as parody. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Only two states had record temperature in past 20 years Thousands of Facebook users have shared a map of historic heat records across the United States, suggesting it is evidence against human-driven global warming since many of the records date to the 1930s or earlier. The claim lacks context; the map shows individual records up to 2019, but broader temperature data show a warming trend since the 19th century, in line with a consensus among world scientists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Shahbaz Gill hugging his children after his arrest After Pakistani opposition politician Shahbaz Gill was arrested on sedition charges, a video was viewed tens of thousands of times in posts that claimed it showed him in a tearful embrace with his children. However, the video has been shared in a false context. The clip shows two children who were reunited with their father after they ran away from home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Paul Pelosi attacked during drunken sexual encounter with a male prostitute Days after finalizing his purchase of Twitter, the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shared an article claiming the attack on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was an altercation resulting from a drunken sexual encounter with a male prostitute. This is false; federal charging documents allege that the suspect broke into the Pelosi family's San Francisco residence in search of the congresswoman, and authorities confirmed he and Paul Pelosi did not know each other. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sanitary pads taxed as luxury items in Thailand? Multiple posts shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claim the Thai government has introduced up to 40 percent tax on sanitary pads after reclassifying them as luxury items. The claim is false; the Excise Department told AFP the claim was “false”; the director of Thailand's Tax Planning Bureau said sanitary pads were subject to seven percent VAT and that taxation for sanitary pads would not be increased. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo shows Sri Lanka government destroying smuggled but harmless stationery goods Four photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that Sri Lankan government officials destroyed harmless stationery goods after they were smuggled into country. The posts, which question why the harmless goods were destroyed, omit important context. The photos have circulated since 2018 in reports about smuggled stationery goods that were destroyed because they contained toxins. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo of an Indonesian circuit set to host a 2021 MotoGP race A Facebook post has a picture it claims shows an Indonesian circuit scheduled to host a MotoGP race in 2021. The photo is actually of the Sepang circuit in neighbouring Malaysia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani court sentences singer Meesha Shafi to three years in jail for defamation Multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter claim that Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi was sentenced to three years in jail for falsely accusing fellow singer Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. The claim is false; a court is yet to pass judgment in an ongoing defamation lawsuit Zafar filed against Shafi after she accused him of sexual harassment; Shafi and her legal team refuted the claim, calling it “false information” and “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows misspelt banner at Burmese new year water festival Burmese-language Facebook posts shared repeatedly in Myanmar have mocked the ruling military junta for apparently using a misspelled banner at a Buddhist new year water festival. Comments on the posts indicated some social media users were misled by the posts, which actually shared images that were altered to insert the typo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: South Korean president’s son violates pandemic restrictions A photo of South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s son has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook in December 2020 alongside a claim that it shows him violating social distancing measures by attending an art exhibition without wearing a mask. The photo has been shared in a misleading context: the image was taken in October 2020 at a press event for an art gallery where wearing masks was not mandatory, according to the South Korean health ministry’s guidelines at that time. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Chinese student claiming that K-pop is Chinese at Oxford University A series of images has been repeatedly shared in Korean-language social media posts that falsely claim the pictures show a Chinese student at the University of Oxford arguing that Korean culture is "inherited from China" and therefore K-pop is part of Chinese culture. The images in fact show a student debating against meritocracy at the Oxford Union in January 2022. Footage of the debate shows the student did not make any mention of Korean culture or K-pop. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of late Pakistani ruler's confidant singing a song A video of a woman singing a Hindi-language song has been shared in social media posts that falsely claim it shows an influential Pakistani woman who held sway over a past military ruler and controlled key civil and military appointments. The woman in the video is in fact an Indian singer, who has expressed displeasure over her work being credited to someone else. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Live footage showing invasion of Ukraine Several supposedly “live” videos featuring firepower hitting buildings and shooting planes out of the nighttime sky have been shared on Facebook in South Africa with claims that they show Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, this is false: these hours-long videos actually show a military simulation video game called Arma 3. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo shows Indian politician Mamata Banerjee walking out of a wheelchair and faking her leg injury in March 2021. Multiple Facebook and Twitter posts have shared a photo that they claim shows Indian politician Mamata Banerjee walking out of a wheelchair, suggesting she faked a leg injury sustained while campaigning in March 2021. The claim is misleading: the photo originally appeared in a satire page; it had been digitally altered to combine two images of Banerjee from before and after her campaign mishap. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image of dilapidated Lagos bridge An image of a badly damaged pier has been circulated in numerous social media posts claiming it shows the state of the Third Mainland Bridge in Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos. The posts allege that the bridge has “opened up” and is “shaking”, potentially putting the lives of commuters at risk. However, the claim is false: the photo was taken back in 2008 during an experiment conducted by a Japanese research institute to test the effects of earthquakes on bridge piers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pakistan health authority announced primary school closure on January 18 Facebook posts circulating in Pakistan claim the country's top body overseeing its pandemic response tweeted that "all primary schools" would be closed in January 2022 to curb the spread of coronavirus. This is misleading. Pakistan's National Command and Control Center (NCOC) said the posts shared a screenshot of a tweet from an imposter account. Although Pakistani authorities ordered some schools to close temporarily in January after Covid-19 outbreaks were detected, there has been no national closure of primary schools as of January 28, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows vaccination arranged on the black market in India A video has been viewed hundreds of times in Twitter, Facebook and Weibo posts that claim it shows a failed vaccination attempt in India as Covid-19 cases surged in the country. But the claim is misleading: the video actually shows a vaccination error in Ecuador. The man in the video has since received a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the government. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rubbing a boiled egg over a child’s body can cure or relieve fever Facebook posts shared tens of thousands of times in Myanmar and Malaysia claim that rubbing a boiled egg over a child's body can treat a fever. Posts about the treatment promote it as originating from Chinese traditional medicine. These claims, however, are false. Medical experts told AFP there is no evidence a boiled egg can cure fever, and said it has no links to traditional Chinese medicine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows scenes of recent flooding in Turkey A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim it shows animals being swept away by torrential rain in Turkey in July 2021. However, the video was shared in a misleading context; the footage actually shows flooding in the Turkish town of Ercis in June 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: RM100,000 fine for wearing uncertified non-medical face masks An infographic has been shared multiple times in social media posts that claim Malaysians must wear face masks with official government certification or face a fine of up to 100,000 Malaysian ringgit ($23,600) under new regulations. However, the claim is misleading; the new rules and penalties apply to companies and individuals producing or importing face masks, rather than the general public, Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drywall dust penetration means face masks are ineffective against the coronavirus Posts on Facebook claim face masks cannot be effective against the coronavirus because they do not stop drywall dust particles bigger than the virus from reaching a person’s face. This is false; experts say masks do not need to be 100 percent effective to help reduce the spread of the virus, and can curb transmission by blocking the larger respiratory droplets that contain it. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines alter DNA and make people unhuman A video claims people vaccinated against Covid-19 are "genetically modified" and have been re-classified as "homoborgenesis," citing a supposed NASA study as evidence. This is false; the US agency told AFP it has done no research on the subject, and leading health authorities have repeatedly debunked claims that the shots alter human DNA. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Biden announced free dental coverage for all seniors through Medicare Facebook posts claim US President Joe Biden announced a Medicare stimulus to provide free dental work to all seniors. But the posts features footage of Biden speaking on the campaign trail in 2020, not announcing new benefits after taking office, and Medicare does not cover most types of dental care. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows Ancient Egyptian carving of human playing with cat. A photo has been shared thousands of times on multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr which claim it shows an Ancient Egyptian carving of a human playing with a cat. The claim is false; the image shows an artwork created by an Australian sculptor in 1999. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Social media user burns Nike shoes in anger over brand’s critical stance on Xinjiang A video has been viewed thousands of times on Weibo, Twitter and Douyin, alongside a claim that it shows a social media user burning Nike shoes in response to the brand’s critical stance on Xinjiang cotton. But the video has been shared in a misleading context: it circulated online at least a week before anger at western fashion giants including Nike errupted in China; the social media user who posted the video told AFP the post has “nothing to do with (anger about) Nike”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of Karnataka student without a hijab in south India Following a ban on Islamic headscarves in schools in a southern Indian state that sparked protests, Facebook posts shared two photos that they claimed both show a Muslim student who was harassed for wearing a hijab at a college. The posts claimed one of the photos shows the student without her hijab, and accused her of hypocrisy. In fact, the photo shows a different woman, who told AFP her image had been misused. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows pro-democracy demonstrators killed by Myanmar’s military after the coup A photo of corpses has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Twitter and a discussion forum alongside a claim that it shows anti-coup demonstrators who were killed by Myanmar’s military. The claim is false; the photo has circulated several months before the military coup in reports about a deadly landslide in Kachin, a state in northern Myanmar, in July 2020 – months before the military coup in February 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Empty graves evidence of rapture in Thailand A video of a muddy graveyard has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside the claim that it shows exposed and empty burial plots in a Thailand cemetery. This, according to the claim, is evidence of what Christians refer to as the rapture, a future biblical event that will signal the second coming of Jesus Christ. The claim is false; the clip was filmed in Tajikistan two years ago after floods destroyed a village cemetery and washed away the graves. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Rival Kenyan politicians dine together at Ruto function A photo has been shared on social media in Kenya alongside a claim that it shows Kalonzo Musyoka - an ally of presidential contender Raila Odinga - at a recent iftar dinner hosted by a major rival, Deputy President William Ruto. In reality, the image was posted online in June 2018 and was taken at a function at Nairobi’s City Hall attended by Ruto and Musyoka. The picture resurfaced ahead of key elections scheduled for August 2022, and is part of a growing wave of disinformation surrounding the polls. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows a joint rally organised by the Congress and left parties in Kolkata on February 28, 2021 A photo of tens of thousands of people gathering with red flags has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that it shows a joint rally organised by the Indian National Congress party and communist parties in the Indian city of Kolkata on February 28, 2021. The claim is false: the photo in fact shows a 2019 rally organised by Indian communist parties in Kolkata ahead of the 2019 general elections. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Coughing sputum and runny nose not symptoms of novel coronavirus A screenshot of a social media post claiming a runny nose and sputum secretion are not symptoms of novel coronavirus has been shared in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter. These claims are false; various health advisories on the coronavirus issued by health authorities worldwide, including those in China where the epidemic emerged, have listed both as possible symptoms of the viral disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The queen said she had information that will lead to Hillary Clinton's arrest Social media posts claim Queen Elizabeth II announced before she died that she had information that could lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton. This is false; there is no record of the queen making such a statement, and the claim matches a years-old meme that reflects a conspiracy theory that the former secretary of state and her husband kill their political opponents. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage shows ‘mansion’ boating up river in China A video has been viewed hundreds of times on Facebook alongside claims that it shows a “moving mansion” boating up a river in China. The claim is false; the footage actually shows a floating restaurant being moved by tugboats in the Chinese city of Chongqing after the local government ordered its removal in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows water discharged from Chinese dam that may flood Thailand and Laos As deadly floods struck China's Henan province, a video was viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook posts that warned a deluge of water from a Chinese dam could cause major flooding in Thailand and Laos. The claim is misleading: the video shows water flowing from a Henan dam out to China's east coast, which does not affect Thailand or Laos, an expert told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: US newspaper The New York Times and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle have endorsed China’s Covid-19 vaccines A claim that US newspaper The New York Times and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle have endorsed China’s Covid-19 vaccines has been shared in multiple Facebook posts, alongside a list claiming the top four safest Covid-19 vaccines in the world are all Chinese-made. The posts are misleading: they cite a New York Times opinion piece, and reference a Deutsche Welle news article from October 2020 that listed Covid-19 vaccines that were then in third-phase clinical trials. Neither the opinion piece nor the news article ranked the safety of the Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Warren Buffet donated $58 million to Joe Biden's campaign Social media posts claim billionaire investor Warren Buffett donated $58 million to Joe Biden’s campaign, linking this to the Democratic president’s decision to revoke the Keystone XL oil pipeline permit. But US Federal Election Commission records do not show direct contributions by Buffett to Biden’s 2020 campaign, and his assistant said he did not make any. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Sri Lanka railways overcharges Korean tourist for ticket. Multiple misleading posts on Facebook shared by Sri Lankan users feature a YouTube video by a Korean travel blogger who visited Sri Lanka. The posts claimed the tourist was "scammed" by train station staff who charged him a higher price when he purchased a ticket to travel from the capital Colombo to the southern Sri Lankan town of Galle. The blogger later clarified that the situation had stemmed from a misunderstanding and that he had not been scammed. The country has revised train fares but had yet to print updated tickets with the new price, instead continuing to use the old ones, a fact corroborated by the railway authorities. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: The United States has a 'plan to destroy Taiwan'. A satirical tweet by a US radio talk show host about US President Joe Biden having a "plan for the destruction of Taiwan" has been falsely shared as genuine reporting by a Taiwanese politician and picked up by Chinese social media users and state-run news organisations in China. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry also called on the United States to "offer a clear explanation" when questioned about the tweet by state media. The talk show host, however, explained in a video on Twitter that his tweet had originally been shared as "satirical breaking news". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Kenya’s Odinga conceding defeat to Ruto A day after Kenya’s presidential election results were announced, a video was shared on Facebook and TikTok alongside a claim that it shows Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga conceding defeat to president-elect William Ruto. But the claim is false: Odinga has rejected the outcome of the latest elections and his coalition has launched a legal challenge. The video has been edited and actually shows Odinga’s concession speech after the Supreme Court affirmed Uhuru Kenyatta as president back in 2013. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Study shows vaccines make people more likely to catch Omicron variant A tweet shared tens of thousands of times claims a study found that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines increase the chances of infection with the Omicron variant. But experts said the shots do not increase the risk of infection, and the authors of the Danish study said the claim misinterpreted the data, overlooking key factors including more frequent testing and more potential exposure among the vaccinated, which would account for the higher reported infection rate in that group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Supporters of Ferdinand Marcos Jr stormed GMA Network A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube alongside a claim it shows supporters of Philippine presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr storming a local broadcaster's headquarters after he declined their invitation for an interview in January 2022. This is misleading: as of February 14, 2022, there have been no official reports that his supporters stormed the broadcaster's building. Most of the footage shows his earlier campaign rallies and one clip shows his supporters singing in a car. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Colloidal silver can treat RSV, other infections Social media posts claim colloidal silver is a treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other infectious diseases in both adults and young children. But medical experts and health authorities warn this is unproven and that the supplement can lead to serious health risks, pointing to numerous studies and guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dating back to 1999. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Midland schools have litter boxes in their bathrooms for kids who identify as furries An online article shared on Facebook claims a school in the US state of Michigan placed a litter box in a bathroom for use by students who identify as cats. But the superintendent of the school district rejected the claim, which came from a parent who alleged she heard about the incident but provided no evidence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Germany announced Covid-19 vaccines are not safe and would be stopped A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in social media posts in August 2021 that claim it shows Germany terminated all Covid-19 vaccinations over safety fears. The claim is false, according to Germany's Federal Ministry of Health. As of September 13, 2021, four vaccines approved by the European Union are being administered in Germany. The video actually shows a "pandemic exit" simulation staged by an anti-lockdown group. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Death of Marvelous Marvin Hagler linked to Covid-19 vaccination Social media posts claim middleweight boxing legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s death was linked to a Covid-19 vaccination. But Hagler’s wife denied vaccine involvement, his official website says he died of natural causes, and the state medical examiner is not investigating the fatality. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows "two oceans meeting" Posts shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media claim to show the point where the oceans meet in the Gulf of Alaska. This is false; only one of the images was actually taken in the Gulf of Alaska according to the people who took the original videos and photographs, and oceanographers said none depicts two oceans meeting. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Photo of female students killed by the Taliban Multiple social media posts shared a photo in December 2021 that they claim shows the aftermath of an explosion that killed "several schoolgirls" under the "Taliban regime" in Afghanistan. But the photo -- which some online users appeared to believe was taken recently -- has been shared in a misleading context. The photo had previously appeared in news reports about a bomb attack in the capital Kabul three months before the Taliban seized power in August. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A news article stated regional leaders in Indonesia must do whatever President Joko Widodo wants A blog post resembling a major Indonesian media group's website has created what appears to be a news article with a headline stating regional leaders must do whatever President Joko Widodo wants. The blog is not linked to the media group and it has manufactured false news using a doctored headline and an old photo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Korean has been adopted as an official language of the UN Social media posts circulating in South Korea claim the Korean language was adopted unanimously as an official language of the United Nations. The claim is false: a UN spokesperson said Korean was not among the six official languages used by the organisation; its websites do not list Korean as an official language. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A list of Covid-19 remedies from an ‘isolation hospital’ As the Philippines struggled to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases, a list of purported home remedies to treat the disease recirculated on social media. The posts claimed the purported treatments were endorsed by a director at a Manila hospital. This is false. In 2020, health experts told AFP the purported coronavirus remedies were not cures for Covid-19. The Manila hospital cited in the recent social media posts said the list was not issued by any of its doctors. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Drone shot down by Ethiopian army An image of a crashed unmanned aerial vehicle has been making the rounds on Facebook with claims that it shows a Sudanese drone recently shot down by the Ethiopian army as it attempted to enter Ethiopian airspace. However, this is false: the picture predates the war in Ethiopia. It was shared in 2019 in online reports and social media posts about a downed drone in Libya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows China has opened an 880-kilometre highway to Pakistan Social media posts carrying a video viewed millions of times claim it shows a new highway linking China and Pakistan. This claim is false; the video shows Yaxi Highway in southwest China's Sichuan province. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Sex hormones determine how people perceive colour of viral shoe meme Multiple Facebook posts in South Korea claim that sex hormones determine how viewers perceive the colour of a shoe featured in an old viral meme. But these posts are misleading: vision and neurology experts told AFP there is no credible evidence that sex hormones influence the way people perceive colour. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigerian police find 400 billion naira at Bola Tinubu’s home A recent Facebook post claimed that Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari ordered the nation’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to seize 400 billion naira in new banknotes (about $876 million) in a raid on the home of the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. The post further claimed the money was retrieved from an underground bunker on the property. However, the claim is false; the EFCC said the photos showed new banknotes that were being kept in bank vaults in Abuja, adding there was no raid on Tinubu’s home. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: This is a CNN article on a Covid-19 victim who 'blames the unvaccinated' Social media posts shared thousands of times purport to show a news report about an obese woman who "blamed the unvaccinated" for her becoming seriously ill with Covid-19. However, the report is likely intended as a joke and uses a photo of a woman who starred in a US reality TV show. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Chinese rocket crashing into the Indian Ocean in May 2021 A video has been viewed thousands of times on Twitter, Facebook and Weibo alongside a claim it shows a Chinese rocket that disintegrated over the Indian Ocean in 2021. The claim is false: the video in fact shows computer-generated imagery created by an Australian security company in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: United States was only country to end slavery; Black people owned slaves Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim that the United States was the only country to end slavery. This is false; experts say multiple countries banned the practice in the 19th century, and one historian called the claim “absurd.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Baduy community in Indonesia have never been vaccinated Multiple social media posts have shared a claim that the Baduy indigenous community in Indonesia have never been vaccinated. This claim is false. The Baduy community have received various immunisations, from polio to diphtheria vaccines, and more recently Covid-19, according to local media reports and traditional leaders. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Moroccan boy Rayan rescued from well unharmed An image has been shared repeatedly on Facebook in posts that claim it shows a five-year-old Moroccan boy being rescued after he was trapped in a well for several days in February 2022. The claim is false: the image has circulated since 2018 in reports about a rescue operation by the White Helmets following air strikes in northwestern Syria; the Moroccan boy died despite the rescue efforts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: There is a US patent for the novel coronavirus and a European one for a vaccine to prevent it Posts on social media claim there is a US patent on the novel coronavirus and a European one for a vaccine, citing specific patent numbers. This is false; the US number relates to an application about a different coronavirus, and the European number is for a patent aimed at a disease that afflicts poultry. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Singapore PM queue up for Covid Jab with citizens An image has been shared in multiple social media posts alongside a claim it shows Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong "queue[ing] up for the Covid-19 vaccine with the citizens" of the city-state. But the claim is false; the photo predates the Covid-19 pandemic. It has circulated online since 2014 in reports about Lee queuing up for fried chicken wings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian couple refusing an ambulance decorated with a sticker of a Hindu god Facebook and Twitter posts have shared an image alongside a claim that an Indian couple refused medical treatment from an ambulance decorated with a Hindu god sticker. The claim is false: the posts shared a photo taken by an AFP photographer, who said the story was fabricated. The Indian news organisation that the posts claimed published the story said it had not published any such report. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Voice of America reports US troops poised to enter Ethiopia Non-existent report (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Sri Lankan politician claims Oxford AstraZeneca jab is a failure A screenshot of a television interview with a Sri Lankan opposition leader has been shared in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim he said the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is not effective in protecting people from Covid-19. The screenshot, however, has been taken out of context: the original TV news segment shows the politician discussing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy against new variants of the coronavirus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of 2020 protest at Indonesia’s parliament over omnibus law A video has been viewed millions of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows a protest outside Indonesia’s House of Representatives over a controversial law in October 2020. The claim is false; the video shows a protest in front of Indonesia's parliament building in September 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pizza box in an Andrew Tate video led to his arrest Social media posts claim a Twitter exchange between Andrew Tate and climate activist Greta Thunberg revealed the social media influencer's location before his arrest in Romania. But authorities say the video is not how they found Tate, who was detained on human trafficking charges after a thorough investigation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Donald Trump's taxes show he did not donate his presidential salary After Congress released details on Donald Trump's taxes in December 2022, Democratic activists and groups claimed on social media that the report indicated the former US president did not donate his salary as he had promised. This is misleading; while the document includes wages Trump earned while in the White House, independent tax experts say it shows he gave that money away, and public records indicate he made contributions to federal agencies. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show gunman from Texas elementary school shooting Social media users claim images of a person holding a transgender flag show the 18-year-old gunman behind a deadly Texas shooting spree. This is false; the posts misappropriate photos of a transgender artist who posted them on Reddit. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Recent farm attack in South Africa A Facebook post with more than 2,600 shares purports to show the gruesome scenes from a violent farm attack in South Africa’s Lanseria region. An armed robbery did take place at a small holding but according to the armed response team, the shared pictures are not from the scene. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lankan Minister submits draft bill to legalize polygamy for men An image has circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp in Sri Lanka alongside a claim it shows a "draft bill legalising polygamy for men" in the island nation. Comments from some social media users indicated they believed the document was genuine. However, multiple government agencies in Sri Lanka told AFP the document -- which has the hallmarks of satire -- is "fake". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Mass protest against Covid restrictions in Algeria in 2021 A photo of crowds gathered in the street is doing the rounds in Facebook posts claiming it shows a "revolution" against Covid-19 restrictions in Algeria. The claim is false; the photo shows a March 2019 protest in the capital Algiers against the re-election of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The picture was taken nearly a year before the first Covid-19 case was detected in Algeria in February 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: German newspapers must guarantee that 75% of their articles are factual Posts on Facebook and Twitter have shared a claim that newspapers in Germany must guarantee that 75 percent of their articles are factual, and that any newspaper unable to do so must instead refer to itself as a magazine. However, the claim is false. The German government, the German Press Council and media scholars told AFP that there is no such policy or regulation in the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Funeral of Hyderabad rape and murder victim A video has been viewed more than a million times in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube posts that claim the footage shows the funeral of a 27-year-old veterinary doctor who was gang raped and killed on November 27, 2019 in Hyderabad, a major city in southern India. The claim is false; the video actually shows the funeral of an Indian army soldier in a village in west India which was held on November 26, a day before the attack in Hyderabad. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Video shows New Zealand Prime Minister organizing outdoor event after completing vaccinations for majority of population? Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Thailand in February 2021 claim New Zealand has “returned to normal” as “the majority of people have been vaccinated [for Covid-19]”. The posts shared screenshots of a video featuring New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern alongside a claim it shows her "encouraging people to do outdoor activities to prove that New Zealand has finally returned to normal". The claim is misleading: as of February 18, 2021, New Zealand was set to begin offering Covid-19 vaccinations to the general population from February 20, 2021. The screenshots in the posts were actually taken from a video that shows Ardern taking part in a barbecue to celebrate New Zealand’s national day. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This photo shows Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen inspecting an indoor drill following a fatal military accident that occurred off the coast of southern Taiwan in early July 2020 An image has been shared in a Facebook post that claims it shows Taiwan’s president inspecting Taiwanese troops conducting a drill in a swimming pool shortly after a fatal accident during a military drill at sea. The same image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts with a similar claim. The claim is false; the photo shows Taiwanese soldiers at a photocall in September 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows South Korean first lady falling asleep during husband's speech An image of South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee with her eyes closed has been shared hundreds of times in social media posts that falsely claim she fell asleep during a speech delivered by her husband in the United Arab Emirates. In fact, the image captured Kim blinking during President Yoon Suk-yeol's speech and video of the event does not show her sleeping. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Uganda president airlifted to Germany after collapsing Posts claiming Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was airlifted to Germany after suddenly collapsing have been viewed thousands of times online. The rumour, which surfaced on June 27, 2021, is false. On the same day, Museveni delivered a speech during the opening of the World Health Summit at Uganda's Makerere University, which was broadcast live. AFP Fact Check has seen a recording of the address. In addition, the Ugandan leader also attended a virtual UN summit of African heads of state on July 1, 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Protestor who confronted police succumbs to injuries After Sri Lankan police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who attempted to storm the president's home, social media posts claimed one protester who was filmed confronting police had later died from "bad injuries". However, the lawyer representing the protester pictured in the posts told AFP on April 5, 2022 that her client was "alive and well". A hospital administrator said protesters who were treated following the protest have either been discharged or were recovering well as of April 4. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Man in photo is a 'foreign commander' informing Hong Kong protesters about police movements Multiple Facebook posts and local media reports have shared an image they claim shows a "foreign commander" giving pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong information about police movements. The claim is false; the man in the image is actually Kevin Roche, an employee of the New York Times newspaper, who was photographed communicating with other NYT journalists covering the July 28, 2019 protest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show Thai pro-democracy protesters threw objects at royal motorcade? Three photos have been shared thousands of times in Facebook posts that claim they show Thai pro-democracy protestors throwing shoes and water bottles at the Queen's motorcade on October 14, 2020. The claim is misleading: an analysis of the photos found they do not show any objects being thrown at the vehicle; corresponding videos of the car, which was transporting Thailand’s Queen and Prince, do not show any items thrown at the vehicle; AFP’s journalists and local reporters at the scene said they did not witness items being thrown at the royal motorcade. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Lashkar-e-Taiba's Hafiz Saeed An image being shared on Facebook claims to show Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Hafiz Saeed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which the United Nations and United States lists as a terrorist organisation. The claim is false: the photo has been doctored from an original posted online in December 2015 of Modi meeting then-Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: These are advices on coronavirus prevention Facebook posts shared thousands of times claim to offer expert advice on the novel coronavirus, including symptoms, prevention and how it spreads. This is misleading; experts and health agencies say there is not enough research on the virus to make these specific claims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Greenish breast milk indicates the presence of Covid-19 antibodies Social media posts featuring an image of two bags of breast milk claim one is greenish because the mother is producing antibodies in response to the child having Covid-19. But experts say breast milk color can change for many reasons and a green tint does not necessarily mean that either mother or child are sick with the disease. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: “Unknown males” in Rolla, Missouri are leaving money on women’s car door handles laced with an incapacitating substance, rendering drivers vulnerable to abduction A Facebook post shared 71,000 times warns users in Rolla, Missouri of “unknown males” leaving money on women’s car door handles laced with an incapacitating substance, rendering drivers vulnerable to abduction. But city police say they have no evidence this tactic is being used, and the post is similar to previous debunked claims of money being left with nefarious intent. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Latest survey shows Malaysia is the most corrupt country in the world Multiple Facebook posts have shared a screenshot of an article that states "according to the Wall Street Journal, Malaysia is the most corrupt country in the world for doing business in 2022." The screenshot includes a ranking chart credited to the American newspaper and Transparency International, a corruption watchdog. However, the claim is false; the Wall Street Journal's report was actually published in 2012. The survey featured in the report has been discontinued, the international corruption watchdog told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump not guilty of impeachment charges Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Nigeria claim the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has ruled in favour of President Donald Trump in his looming impeachment battle, declaring him innocent of the charges he is facing. This is false: AFP explains here how US impeachment works and what role the DoJ plays. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Study shows asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 didn’t happen at all A screenshot of an article headline reporting that a study showed that asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 “didn’t occur at all” has been shared in multiple Facebook and Instagram posts. The claim is misleading; the authors of the study said their results do not show that asymptomatic carriers cannot transmit Covid-19 and warned against generalising the study’s findings. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Unproven: 769 athletes collapsed on the field in a year due to the Covid-19 vaccine After American football player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game in January 2023, claims that nearly 800 athletes collapsed in one year due to the Covid-19 vaccine recirculated online. This is unproven; the allegation rests on an unsourced segment from a far-right cable news channel, and public health agencies have found no link between athlete injuries or deaths and vaccination. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Multiple photos and videos have been shared on social media and in various news reports alongside claims that they show damage after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the US state of Alaska on July 22, 2020. Multiple photos and videos have been shared on social media and in various news reports alongside a claim they show damage after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the US state of Alaska on July 22, 2020. The claim is false; the content has circulated online since at least 2014 in media reports about unrelated incidents. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading Context: This photo shows Israeli products being banned in Malaysia Facebook posts shared thousands of times purport to show a photo of Coca-Cola bottles dumped in the street in Malaysia after civil rights groups called to boycott the brand over alleged ties to Israel. This claim is misleading: the photo was in fact taken in the Philippines in April 2020 when the drinks fell from a truck that swerved to avoid a collision. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Netflix is producing a documentary on Pakistani PM's alleged corruption Misleading posts viewed hundreds of thousands of times claim that a documentary on alleged corruption by Pakistan's prime minister is an "upcoming Netflix series", but a producer for the film told AFP it is independently produced. A Netflix spokesperson also said the company has not been involved in production. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows passenger got off the crashed aircraft before it take-off After a China Eastern plane plunged from the sky on March 21, killing all 132 people aboard and marking China's deadliest air disaster in three decades, social media posts shared a video they claimed showed a man who changed his travel plans at the last minute and decided not to board the stricken jet. However, the clip was filmed weeks before the crash by a travel blogger boarding a flight from a different airline. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: VAERS data shows the “apparent death rate” from Covid-19 vaccines Fox News host Tucker Carlson claims US government figures show the “apparent death rate” from Covid-19 vaccines. But the statistics he refers to come from a system that warns it may contain “incomplete” or “inaccurate” information, and says its reports alone cannot be used to determine if deaths or other adverse events were caused by immunization. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka launched a new Rs. 1000 currency note design in 2020 An image has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook which claim it shows a new 1,000 rupees banknote in Sri Lanka. The claim is false; the 1,000 note was not redesigned in 2020, according to Sri Lanka’s Central Bank. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Backers of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte endorse candidates from rival party A photo shared hundreds of times on Facebook purports to show two senators allied with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte endorsing opposition candidates in May's midterm election. The image has been doctored; the original is actually an endorsement of a pro-Duterte candidate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Archaeologists purely determine sex by looking at the pelvic bone A misleading claim that archaeologists can purely determine the sex of a person from the pelvic bone in their remains and that their conclusion is always either male or female has been shared tens of thousand of times by social media users in different countries. However, experts say it is difficult to determine sex from the pelvic bone alone, and that these estimates are on a spectrum and not always binary. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The photo of former US ambassador to India circulates alongside false claim that US forces arrested Italian president. A photo has been circulating on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit alongside claims it shows Italian President Sergio Mattarella being arrested by US forces. The claim is false; the photo actually shows former US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster with a security detail for the US secretary of the state in October 2020. Mattarella has not been arrested. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka approves use of abortion pill False social media posts circulating in Sri Lanka in May say the government has approved the use of abortion pills. But a health official told AFP abortions remain illegal in the island nation. The text shared in the posts actually matches the headline of a news report in April about Japan approving the abortion pill. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo collage shows Filipino comedian Vic Sotto carrying a child Pauleen Luna who would later become his wife An old photo has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows Filipino comedian Vic Sotto carrying a child who would grow up to be his wife, fellow celebrity Pauleen Luna. The photo was shared side-by-side with a current image of Sotto, Luna and their young daughter, Sotto’s most recent child. The claim is false: the child seen in the old photo is another one of Sotto's daughters, not Luna. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: 5G technology creates coronavirus in human cells Social media posts say that 5G technology creates coronavirus in human cells, but the false claim originated from a discredited paper later retracted by a scientific journal. The claims are not based on scientific evidence, experts say, and the paper was withdrawn after its publisher found “manipulation of the peer review” process. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo of Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar giving Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan a donation to build a dam? A photo that has been shared thousands of times on Facebook appears to show three of the world’s top footballers handing Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan a large cheque, purportedly to help build two new hydroelectric dams. The claim is false and the image has been doctored from an original photograph posted on Khan’s official Twitter account. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bai Hor's green medicine drink cures Covid-19 As Thailand faced a surge in coronavirus cases, a message circulated on Facebook that claimed a Thai herbal drink can cure Covid-19. The claim is false: the pharmaceutical company that developed the herbal drink said it “does not have any effects on the coronavirus”. Health experts said there was no evidence the purported medicine can treat people infected with Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: P-Square duo wearing Biafra hoodie An image of Nigerian singing duo Peter and Paul Okoye, better known as P-Square, wearing hoodies with the flag of Biafra has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside a call for them to be arrested. But AFP Fact Check found that the image has been altered to promote the secessionist movement. In the original image, the two are not wearing the colours of Biafra. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Graphic shows Catholic Church expressing support for controversial dam Multiple Facebook posts have shared a doctored graphic that falsely claims the Catholic Church in the Philippines pledged its support for a controversial dam project that primarily aims to supply water to people living in the capital Manila. In fact, the church said in response to the posts that it remained opposed to the dam because of its potential impact on the environment and indigenous communities. The original graphic -- published in 2021 -- said the church opposed the project. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Pro-Khalistan rally in Punjab after AAP's win A video has circulated in Hindi-language posts that claim it shows a Sikh separatist rally in the Indian state of Punjab after an opposition party's victory there in state elections. However, the video -- viewed tens of thousands of times -- has been shared in a misleading context. It circulated online almost two weeks before the election results were announced. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Thailand enters highest stage of pandemic? A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that Thailand’s Ministry of Health has raised the country’s alert on the novel coronavirus to the “highest level”. The claim is false; a spokesman for Thailand’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) says the country has not declared its highest level of alert; the Ministry of Public Health refuted the claim, calling it “fake news”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Non-resident Indians can vote online in general election Multiple social media posts claim that India’s Election Commission is allowing non-resident Indians – people who hold Indian citizenship but do not live in the country – to vote online during 2019 general elections. The claim is false; India does not allow online voting for any eligible voters. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Metformin can shorten the life of diabetics because of lethal side effects Diabetes specialists say the drug metformin has decades of safety and efficacy data, contrary to posts shared repeatedly in the Philippines that falsely claimed it causes "early death" for patients suffering from the condition. The posts shared a fabricated message from a Filipino doctor as well as advertising food supplements that have not been proven to treat diabetes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of aircraft cabin on British Airways flight from London to Islamabad A video of a dirty aircraft cabin has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts published in June 2019 which claim it shows a British Airways flight from London to Islamabad. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online since 2016 in reports about a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight from Jeddah to Addis Ababa. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show cars smashed up in Ukraine for displaying a Chinese flag? Picture showing cars with smashed windows are circulating in multiple social media posts that claim they are vehicles in Ukraine targeted after the Russian invasion for displaying stickers of the Chinese flag. In fact, the pictures were digitally altered to add the flag and were taken years before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani protesters raise Indian flag A photo has surfaced on Facebook and Twitter in posts claiming it shows members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a group advocating for the rights of the Pashtun ethnic group in Pakistan, waving the Indian flag at a protest in March 2021. The claim is false; the image has been doctored to include the Indian flag. The original photo shows a black flag which the PTM claims is a symbol of the movement’s struggles. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A factory full of baby formula, toilet paper and other supplies for export to China A post has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter which claims that a factory in the Australian city of Melbourne has been hoarding essential supplies including baby formula, toilet paper and hand sanitiser for export to China during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false; police said the accusation was "false". The company cited in the misleading posts also refuted the claim. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Novel coronavirus exposure at a doctor’s office in this Australian town A claim that a doctor’s office in a New South Wales town was visited by people who had been exposed to the novel coronavirus has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook. The claim is misleading; health officials stated that the only confirmed coronavirus cases in the Australian state were in Sydney, not the regional areas. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Votes were fraudulently added in Dallas County, Texas in 2022 midterms Social media posts claim a video shows hundreds of voters being fraudulently added after polls closed in Dallas County, Texas during the 2022 US midterm elections. This is false; the clip depicts the normal updating of an electronic poll book, not a voting machine, county officials and the election technology company say. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show a pig carcass, not a human corpse, found on a beach in South Korea’s Busan Two images have been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and on Korean social media platforms which claim they show a human corpse on a beach in the South Korean city of Busan. The claim is false; the Busan Coast Guard told AFP the images show a pig carcass that washed up on the shore, not a human body; local media also reported that the incident involved a pig carcass. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Video: Kenya’s Ruto admits to growing his career off corruption A video clip of Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto purportedly admitting to a career built on the proceeds of corruption during an interview with the BBC is circulating on social media. The clip, however, has been edited to make it sound like Ruto had admitted to financial wrongdoing. In the original interview, Ruto in fact said he grew his career from “nothing”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Retired employees protesting for equal treatment in Nanjing 2021 A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows retired employees protesting China's pension insurance system in eastern Jiangsu province in November 2021. But the video has been shared in a false context; it was filmed in China's Sichuan province. Reports state the video shows a protest against shale mining in February 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo showing mass protest in Belarus after disputed elections A photo of a large crowd has been shared repeatedly on Facebook, Twitter and various news websites alongside a claim it shows a recent protest in Belarus after the disputed election in August 2020. The claim is false; the photo shows a protest in Seoul against South Korea's then president Park Geun-hye in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hackers posting on your Facebook page without you knowing A meme shared thousands of times on Facebook warns the website’s users of a supposed hack where sexual content can be posted on their walls without their knowledge. The claim, which has been widely shared for years and in various forms, is false. Facebook told AFP that content can’t be posted on an individual’s wall in a way that cannot be seen by them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 mRNA vaccines damage the human body's immune system Facebook users in Singapore and Malaysia have shared a purported Chinese-language news article about a disputed scientific paper that falsely claims mRNA Covid-19 vaccines "damage humans' natural immunity". Health experts told AFP there is no evidence to support the claim that mRNA vaccines are harmful. Immunologists, oncologists and other bioscientists said the paper contained "profound misinterpretations of topics and conclusions about the negative impact" of vaccination on immunity. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Yogi Adityanath provides for orphan child at Diwali celebrations in 2019 Facebook and Twitter posts share a photo of Indian politician Yogi Adityanath that they claim shows him pledging to support a newly orphaned child. The claim is false; the photo shows Adityanath greeting local children in Uttar Pradesh during Diwali celebrations in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sambit Patra said that even though gas is expensive, cylinders are cheap After cooking gas prices rose steeply in India, an image was shared thousands of times on social media alongside a claim it shows a news report detailing how a spokesman from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made nonsensical remarks about the price of gas cylinders. The posts prompted criticism of the spokesman from some social media users. But the purported news report was not published on a genuine news site. There have been no official reports that the spokesman made such remarks as of July 18, 2022. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows protest over UAE-Israel peace deal A video of a protest in London has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook alongside claims that the demonstration was organised in response to an August 2020 diplomatic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The claim is false; the footage in fact shows a protest in July 2018 against US President Donald Trump during his state visit to the UK. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CDC admits Covid-19 doesn’t exist? A photo of an article reporting that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “admits there is no Covid-19” has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The report cites an agency document which explains how a virus test works as its source. The claim is false: a US pathology expert said the CDC document was misinterpreted, stating that “there is no question” Covid-19 exists. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos of the drought in Turkana County, Kenya Images claiming to show the current drought in northern Kenya have been shared widely on social media. Turkana County and other parts of Kenya are indeed suffering a drought, and reports suggest that some residents are on the brink of starvation. But some of the images purporting to show the current situation are old pictures, taken both in Kenya and in other African countries. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: BBC video shows recent anti-Muslim violence in India Video footage from an investigation by BBC News is circulating in social media posts that claim it shows violence against Muslims in the Indian state of Tripura in October. The claim is false; the report was filmed during riots in the Indian capital Delhi in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Korea's ruling Democratic party headquarters are in Pyongyang Multiple Facebook posts have shared a screenshot of Google Maps that purports to show South Korea’s ruling Democratic party's headquarters are situated in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The claim is false: the party’s headquarters are located in Seoul. As of April 19, 2021, Google had removed the fake marker for the party's offices, which the tech giant told AFP was likely added by a Google user. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Sri Lankan bird A photo of a dead animal has been shared tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a Sri Lankan owl. The claim is false; the image actually shows a species of fish found only in North and Central America. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trudeau bought his mother a car with WE Charity funds As Justin Trudeau and his family face public outcry and investigations for awarding WE Charity a Can$912 million contract, a widely-spread hoax claims that the Canadian prime minister bought his mother a luxury car with money from the organization, formerly known as Free The Children. This is false; the story was fabricated by a self-proclaimed satirical website, and propagated by a website pushing pro-conservative content. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Accurate dates of inventor and sports star deaths A list circulating in multiple Facebook posts purports to give the ages at which various inventors and sports stars died. The posts advise people to "eat whatever you like" and "enjoy life", because, they claim, exercise does not necessarily prolong life. The claim is misleading: the list gives inaccurate ages of death for many of the notable figures it includes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends consuming a balanced diet and doing regular exercise to prevent malnutrition and ill-health. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Blowing vape smoke through face masks shows that they do not help prevent the spread of coronavirus A YouTube video and social media posts claim a man blowing vape smoke through various face masks shows that they do not help prevent the spread of coronavirus. This is false; experts agree that while the virus itself is small enough to fit through mask fibers -- as is vape smoke -- masks do help stop the much-larger respiratory droplets that carry potentially infectious particles, and multiple studies have indicated that masks reduce transmission of the virus causing Covid-19. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The Buddhist monk in the video is 163 years old A video of an elderly Buddhist monk has been watched more than a hundred thousand times on Facebook alongside a claim that the monk is 163 years old. The claim is false, according to the monk's grandniece, who told AFP he was 109 years old when he died in March 2022. The world's oldest-ever living person was a Frenchwoman who died in 1997 aged 122, according to the Guinness World Records. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Recent photo of two Ukrainian kids sending off soldiers A photo of two children facing tanks has been shared alongside claims it shows Ukrainian kids saluting soldiers as they head off to battle Russian forces currently invading the country. But the image has been shared out of context: AFP Fact Check found the photo was taken in 2016 by Ukrainian photographer Dmitry Muravsky. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a press conference that the Thai king didn't do anything wrong Multiple posts shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter claim Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a press conference on October 26, 2020 that Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn “didn’t do anything illegal” while at his German residence. The posts circulated online after Thai pro-democracy protesters marched to the German Embassy in central Bangkok, calling for reforms. However, the claim is misleading; in the October 26 press conference pictured in the posts, Maas said his office was still examining the Thai king’s movements in Germany and that the government would “act immediately” if the royal leader was found to have broken the law. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Eight seed oils are harmful to health Blogs and social media posts claim many vegetable oils, such as those made from sunflower and canola, can promote inflammation that leads to heart disease and other ailments. This is misleading; health experts say consumption of seed oils can be beneficial if not included in highly processed foods. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: House on top of landslide rubble listed for sale An image shared thousands of times on Facebook purports to show a house that is up for sale, perched on top of landslide rubble. The image, however, has been doctored. The original image has appeared in news reports about a 2010 landslide in Taiwan and does not show a house. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Cars melt due to hot weather in Saudi Arabia A photo of two partially melted cars has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim hot weather in Saudi Arabia caused the vehicles to melt. Other misleading posts combine the same photo with claims it shows the result of hot weather in other locations, or a forest fire. All the claims are false; the cars were melted by heat from a construction site fire in the US city of Tucson in June 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tonga eruption was a possible nuclear detonation Social media posts suggest that the recent volcanic activity in Tonga was actually a nuclear blast. This is false; experts say factors including the absence of radiation and the presence of an active volcano make clear that a natural eruption occurred, and dismissed the idea that a nuclear device was detonated on the site. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show destruction in Afghanistan after an earthquake in February 2021 Two photos have been shared in multiple Facebook and Instagram posts that claim they show destruction in Afghanistan following an earthquake in February 2021. The claim is false: both photos were taken from Associated Press reports about an earthquake in Turkey in January 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Burmese military envoy being attacked in 2021 A video of an attack on a military convoy has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts in August 2021 that claim it shows a recent ambush in Myanmar. The video circulated online after Myanmar's ousted lawmakers called for people to fight back against the junta. The video, however, has been shared in a misleading context: it predates the Myanmar military coup. It has circulated in reports since 2020 about the Arakan Army -- an ethnic armed organisation based in Myanmar's Rakhine state -- attacking a military convoy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian actor Dilip Kumar donated all his property to Wakf board After the death of veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar on July 7, Facebook and Instagram posts claimed the star’s family donated all his property to Islamic charitable causes. The claim is false, his manager Faisal Farooqui told AFP. The board overseeing such charitable donations in Kumar's home state of Maharashtra said no such grant had been made. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Yogi Adityanath asking people to boycott Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan A video has been viewed thousands of times on social media posts in Hindu-majority India claiming it shows controversial Hindu monk and politician Yogi Adityanath urging people to boycott Muslim Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s film "Pathaan", which is set for release in 2023. However, the claim is misleading; the clip has circulated online since 2015, when the actor was targeted by the politician for a different reason. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photo of former Thai PM’s ex-wife wearing pro-monarchy yellow after pro-democracy protests? A photo that shows the ex-wife of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wearing yellow -- a colour associated with the monarchy -- has been shared repeatedly on Facebook in October 2020. The posts, published shortly after large pro-democracy demonstrations began in Bangkok, claim the image shows the family outside their home in the capital in 2020. But the photo has been shared in a misleading context: it actually shows the family marking the Thai king's coronation in May 2019 at a golf club in a province north of Bangkok; Thai government officials, high-profile families and businessmen often wear yellow on royal occasions as a sign of respect for the monarchy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrested for "meddling" in the 2020 US Presidential election A photo has been shared repeatedly in multiple posts on Facebook in March 2021 alongside a claim it shows Italian President Sergio Mattarella being arrested for "meddling" in the 2020 US Presidential election. The claim is false: the photo actually shows a former American military analyst being arrested during a protest in the state of Virginia in 2011. As of March 5, 2021, there have been no credible reports that Mattarella was arrested. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of pirates hijacking a ferry in Batam, Indonesia A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim it shows Indonesian special forces detaining pirates who attempted to hijack a ferry off the Indonesian coast. The claim is false; the video actually shows a simulation exercise by the Indonesian navy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canadians can earn thousands with Petro-Canada investment app A Facebook ad uses clips of a Canadian television anchor and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pitch an opportunity to invest in Petro-Canada via an online platform. This is false; the oil company confirmed it made no such offer and the videos of Trudeau and the news presenter are manipulated to include words neither of them said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Canada will welcome 3 million immigrants in 2020 Four identical articles claim that the Canadian government will welcome three million immigrants in 2020. This is false; the country’s immigration plan set a target of 341,000 new permanent residents for the year 2020. The Facebook pages linked to the websites behind the articles are administered from Kosovo. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Facebook pages sell genuine GIBI SHOES Facebook pages impersonating a popular footwear brand in the Philippines have repeatedly posted adverts for what they falsely claim are genuine products. A representative for the brand, GIBI SHOES, told AFP the pages were fraudulent. On the company's official Facebook page, it warned its customers that it does not sell shoes on the social networking site. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Pakistan school vaccination drive in 2021 Facebook posts circulating in Pakistan purport to show a video of a vaccination drive at a school where "six students died on the spot". The claim is false; the video has circulated since 2019 in reports about a typhoid vaccination drive in Karachi where children were hospitalised and later discharged. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: CNN back-pedalled and said Trump will win US presidency A video has been shared thousands of times on Facebook with claims that after initially calling the US election for Joe Biden, American TV network CNN had back-pedalled and was now saying President Donald Trump would win a second term. This is misleading; the video uses a clip from CNN anchor Fareed Zarakia predating the election in which he simply laid out a hypothetical way that Trump could win. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ballot boxes relocation prior to Australian state election is illegal Footage of election officers being accosted has circulated online ahead of a vote in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state alongside a false claim they were "illegally" handling ballot boxes. However, the state poll body and an Australian politics professor separately told AFP that state election law allows the movement of ballot boxes shown in the video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of bright lights seen over northern India in September 2022 A video has been viewed thousands of times in Indian social media posts that claim it shows a string of bright lights moving uniformly through the night sky over the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in September 2022. While there were reports of people in the state seeing a similar phenomenon at the time, this video has been shared in a false context. It has circulated on YouTube since at least 2020. The user who filmed the original clip told AFP it shows Starlink satellites, which provide high-speed internet service, over central Europe in August 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Obi hires IPOB leader’s lawyer to contest Nigerian poll outcome An online post in Nigeria claims that a lawyer representing Labour Party leader Peter Obi in his poll result challenge also works for detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. But this is false: Kanu’s lawyer Mike Ozekhome is not part of Obi’s legal team contesting the results of the February election. However, he is an adviser to Atiku Abubakar, who has also disputed the outcome of the presidential polls that saw him declared runner-up to the winner Bola Tinubu. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Washington DC rally in January 2021 A photo of a large demonstration in Washington DC has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Twitter and Facebook that claim it was taken on January 6, 2021, the same day that supporters of US President Donald Trump organised a rally in the US capital. The claim is false; the photo has circulated since March 2018 in reports about a protest against gun violence in Washington DC. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show post-election violence in Uganda A post shared dozens of times on Facebook claims to show violent clashes between civilians and security forces in Uganda following the recent presidential election. The claim is false; the images are of a caravan of Honduran migrants who were blocked by Guatemalan soldiers upon entering the country. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These videos show China-India border standoff in June 2020 Three videos have been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook alongside a claim that they show tensions between Chinese and Indian soldiers on the border between the two countries in June 2020. The claim is false; the videos have all separately circulated online since at least 2014, before the June 2020 border clashes. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Tobacco pack warning changed in January 2021 to include 'blood clots' Social media posts circulating in Australia claim a new blood clot warning was added to the country's tobacco packaging in January 2022 -- which they suggest is linked to the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. But the posts are misleading: the blood clot warning predates the pandemic, a tobacco control organisation told AFP. The warning is based on a decade-old law, Australia's health department separately told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Photo shows Volodymyr Zelensky holding a jersey featuring a swastika Social media posts feature a picture of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holding a soccer jersey that has a swastika in place of a number. But AFP found that the posts used a digitally manipulated image superimposing the Nazi symbol on a photo taken from the leader's Instagram account. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Herbal porridge with coconut milk and katupila kills cancer cells As Sri Lanka's public healthcare system faced growing pressure amidst an unprecedented economic crisis, social media users in the island nation claimed that a "miracle porridge" could "kill cancer cells". The posts -- shared hundreds of times -- advised people to drink the purported remedy on an empty stomach. But Sri Lankan oncology specialists and indigenous medicine practitioners warned there was no scientific evidence that it can cure cancer. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Outdated: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is not safe for pregnant women Social media posts claim documents recently released by Pfizer show that the company's Covid-19 vaccine is unsafe for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is false; health regulators and independent medical experts say no serious safety signals have been identified following vaccination during pregnancy, and the image in the posts does not show guidance from the pharmaceutical giant but is in fact outdated advice published by the United Kingdom in 2020. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines contain parasites A claim that Covid-19 vaccines contain parasites that could grow inside an inoculated person's body has been shared repeatedly on several social media posts in South Korea. But these posts -- which recommend those who were vaccinated to take the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin -- are false. Vaccines are manufactured in sterile environments and do not contain parasites as ingredients, experts told AFP. They also warned against the use of ivermectin, citing health risks. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: US Democrat Adam Schiff has been arrested and detained Facebook posts shared around the world claim that Adam Schiff, a senior US Democrat who led the impeachment of former president Donald Trump in 2019, has been arrested for "treason". The claim is false: the US Department of Defense and Schiff's office rejected the reports, and the congressman has appeared at public events and on live television since his alleged arrest. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Philippine politicians Sarah Elago and Satur Ocampo donning hammer and sickle head scarves A photo purporting to show Philippine politicians Sarah Elago and Satur Ocampo donning head scarves with a hammer-and-sickle print has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts. The claim is false: the photo has been digitally altered from an original that does not contain the communist symbol. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines linked to 57-fold increase in miscarriage Research has shown Covid-19 shots are safe for pregnant people and help prevent severe illness and death, but anti-vaccine advocates and Fox News host Tucker Carlson say a new study shows a high risk of miscarriages and other adverse effects. This is false; experts told AFP the claims misrepresent the data, which come from a pre-print that has not been peer-reviewed -- and the coronavirus itself presents a greater risk for pregnancy complications. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Aika Robredo admitted in a tweet she was the woman in an alleged sex video. As Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo battles to close the gap with her presidential rival Ferdinand Marcos Jr before polls on May 9, 2022, social media posts have repeatedly claimed Robredo's daughter admitted on Twitter to making a sex tape. But this is false: the posts feature an old tweet by Robredo's daughter Aika that was part of a 2016 online campaign in support of an opposition senator. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Fukushima’s astronomical radiation right now A photo has been published in an online article alongside a claim it shows “astronomical radiation” from Fukushima, Japan. The claim is false; the photo shows projections of where marine debris from the massive earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan in 2011 could circulate; its creator said it has “nothing at all to do with radiation”. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of young widow waiting for surgery An image has been shared thousands of times on Facebook in Ethiopia alongside a claim that it shows a 26-year-old hospitalised widow named “Asafaashi” waiting to undergo an operation. But the claim is false; the picture shows Kenyan media personality Njambi Koikai when she was hospitalised with endometriosis in the United States. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Sri Lanka ranked having the world's fifth strongest Covid-19 response by WHO Multiple Facebook posts claim the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Sri Lanka fifth in a table of countries' responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The claim is false: the WHO said it had not created any such ranking system. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistan's second tallest man has died in early 2019 Facebook posts which have been shared tens of thousands of times claim that Pakistan's second tallest man has died. The claim is false -- AFP spoke to Naseer Soomro by phone in June, 2019. “I am alive and speaking to you and I don’t understand what people get from spreading such false news,” he said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Indian and Pakistani soldiers in a tug of war A video of soldiers in a tug of war has been viewed more than 15 million times on Facebook alongside a claim that they were Indian and Pakistani troops. The claim is false; the video actually shows an informal competition in 2012 between a Canadian and a US soldier in the US state of Indiana. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Donald Trump’s post-presidency office in Florida in 2021 A photo has been shared thousands of times on Twitter alongside a claim it shows former US President Donald Trump working in his office in the US state of Florida in 2021, shortly after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. The claim, however, is false: the photo in fact shows Trump working at his private resort in Florida in 2017 while he was still president. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows fighting in Ethiopia in May 2023 A Facebook post with a link to a video claims the footage shows Ethiopian soldiers fighting militias in the Amhara region in May 2023. This is false: the clip contains old photos of protests in South Africa and the Oromia region respectively. There is no visual evidence in the clip of fighting, however. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Japanese Nobel Laureate Yoshinori Ohsumi recommend fasting to cure cancer False social media posts with tens of thousands of shares worldwide claim the Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi, who won the 2016 Nobel Medicine Prize, recommended fasting to cure cancer. Ohsumi's research has led to a new understanding of how disruptions on cell "recycling" can cause diseases such as cancer. However, AFP did not find evidence he made the remarks in the posts. Multiple health experts told AFP fasting does not cure cancer and warned doing so could be dangerous for patients. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Proof of vaccination is required to vote in British Columbia Social media posts urge those not yet vaccinated against Covid-19 to vote early in the upcoming Canadian federal election, before proof of vaccination requirements enter into effect in the province of British Columbia. But Elections Canada and the provincial government say that no proof of vaccination will be required to vote. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows former Afghan president fleeing Taliban’s takeover An image of Afghanistan’s ousted president Ashraf Ghani looking through an aeroplane window is circulating in social media posts that claim to show the former leader fleeing the country, leaving Afghans behind when the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The claim is false: the photo was taken a month earlier when Ghani visited Bagram Air Base. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Dominion ballot counting machines were used in Canada 2019 federal election A Facebook post claiming that Dominion ballot counting machines used for the 2020 US election were also employed for Canada’s 2019 federal vote, when Justin Trudeau was re-elected prime minister, has been shared thousands of times in English and French. This is false; Elections Canada uses paper ballots that are hand counted, and the independent federal agency said it has never used voting machines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video claims to show strong winds from Hurricane Hanna knocking over part of the border wall between the United States and Mexico A video claiming to show strong winds from Hurricane Hanna knocking over part of the border wall between the United States and Mexico has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media in English and Spanish. But the claim is false; US authorities said that the incident dates from before the storm. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nigeria to donate $600m to Joe Biden’s campaign Multiple posts shared more than a thousand times on Facebook claim that Nigeria’s government has pledged $600 million to the campaign of US presidential candidate Joe Biden because incumbent Donald Trump had supported a separatist group in the west African country. But the allegations are false. There is no evidence that Nigeria has vowed to fund Biden, an act prohibited by US law. Similarly, the claim that Trump had backed a separatist group in Nigeria is baseless. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: BlackRock owns large stakes in both Fox and Dominion Voting Systems Social media posts claim investment giant BlackRock has major holdings in both Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems, suggesting this is why the US television company fired host Tucker Carlson after it settled a defamation case with the election technology firm. This is partly false; BlackRock owns shares in the similarly named Dominion Energy -- not the voting business -- and a minority stake in the media group controlled by the Murdoch family. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hungary's national museum ‘insults’ France with tattered French flag A photo has been shared hundreds of times on Twitter and Weibo alongside a claim that it shows a tattered French national flag displayed at Hungary’s national museum as a deliberate “insult” to France. The claim is false: the photo shows the Romanian flag with a hole in the middle to symbolise the 1989 revolution. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Hydroxychloroquine cures Covid-19 Multiple posts shared repeatedly on Facebook in Korean language claim the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine cures Covid-19. The posts, which began circulating in December 2020, downplay the seriousness of contracting the virus despite a surge in confirmed cases in South Korea. The claim is false: the Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society told AFP that hydroxychloroquine cannot cure Covid-19. As of January 5, 2021, multiple international studies have found the antimalarial drug to be ineffective against the virus. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South Africa’s president and his deputy fled the country A post shared on Facebook in South Africa alleges that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy David Mabuza fled the country after former leader Jacob Zuma was handed a jail sentence, leading to unrest by his supporters. But the claim is false: the two leaders were already out of the country by the time the post was published. Ramaphosa was attending the state funeral of Zambia's ex-president Kenneth Kaunda in Lusaka, and Mabuza has been in Russia for undisclosed medical treatment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian politician beaten for tearing down saffron flag? A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts claiming it shows a mob beating Ramkesh Meena, a member of the legislative assembly for the Indian state of Rajasthan, after he allegedly tore down a saffron flag on July 22, 2021. The claim is false; the video was shot during protests in 2018. As of August 11, 2021, there are no reports of Meena being beaten after the saffron flag was torn down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The crowd chanted an anti-Biden slogan during Joe Biden's gun reform speech A video viewed nearly 200,000 times on Instagram appears to show a crowd interrupting US President Joe Biden with an expletive-laden chant during a speech on gun reform. But the clip has been manipulated; the original footage of the address shows Biden reacting as the father of a school shooting victim stood up to call for a greater response to gun violence. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows bruises on body of Indian Muslim boy assaulted drinking water at Hindu temple Photos of a boy covered in bruises have been shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim that he is the Muslim boy who was beaten for allegedly drinking tap water inside a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in March 2021. The claim is false; one of the photos has circulated since October 2020 in reports about a boy who was brutally assaulted by his father in Al-Mahwit, Yemen. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Pakistani police officer killed after speaking up against corruption? Posts that have been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter contain video and photographs they claim show a Pakistani police officer who was murdered for speaking out about police corruption after a deadly counter terrorism raid in Sahiwal city in eastern Punjab province. The claims are false; the images have no connection to the Sahiwal raid, and the police officer has not been killed. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Hong Kong Yuen Long bus driver’s mad driving skills A doctored video has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows a dangerous driving incident that led to the apprehension of a Hong Kong bus driver in 2020. In reality, the video was filmed in Japan and has been uploaded to YouTube since at least 2011. It has been digitally sped up and altered to add Cantonese-language audio of screaming passengers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Doctor Dennis L Modry says Alberta's Covid measures ineffective An open letter to Alberta’s premier by former heart surgeon Dennis L Modry has been shared on social media as the Canadian province enacted stricter measures aimed at curbing the Covid-19 pandemic. But medical experts say several claims in the letter are false or unproven, and Modry is not currently licensed to practice, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of ‘Earth, Jupiter and Venus’ as seen from Mars An image of an orange-coloured skyline with three white dots has been shared thousands of times in multiple social media posts worldwide, including in the US, Spain, Germany and many countries in Africa. The post purports to capture Earth, Venus and Jupiter as seen from Mars. But this is misleading: while the US space agency NASA indeed documented similar shots taken from the Red Planet, the viral image is old and was generated using computer simulation software. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of mainland Chinese people beating up Hong Kong protester A video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in Facebook, YouTube and Twitter posts that claim it shows "gangsters hired by China" beating a Hong Kong protester. The claim is false; the conversation heard in the clip is about debts allegedly owed by the man being attacked; the same footage was published by media in Taiwan in 2018; Taiwanese police told AFP that the video showed an assault in Taichung, Taiwan, which was connected to a debt issue. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Sikh separatists’ ‘Khalistan Airlines’ An image of a plane that appears to feature “Khalistan Airlines” branding and Sikh symbols has been shared in multiple Facebook posts. The photo, however, has been doctored; the original image shows a Singapore Airlines plane; there is no “Khalistan Airlines” operating. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Duterte ordered to change the name of an airport in the Philippines A video has been shared in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announcing that the country’s biggest airport Ninoy Aquino International would be renamed. The claim is false; Duterte does not mention renaming the airport in the video, while the agency that manages the facility said the reports were false. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: A genuine photo of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison? An image purporting to show Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a wet pair of pants has been shared hundreds of times on social media. The claim is misleading: the image has been manipulated from a press photograph of Morrison in May 2021. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photos show Communist party of India (Marxits) protest against Yogi Aditynath's government in Lucknow in northern India Four photos have been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim they show a massive procession by an Indian communist party against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India. The claim is false; the photos were captured by various news agencies of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video reveals 'breaking news' that India’s ruling party BJP committed electoral fraud A video that appears to show electronic voting machines being transported has been viewed thousands of times alongside claims it is "breaking news" revealing that India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is conspiring with election authorities to tamper with the country's upcoming ballot. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online since 2018; it shows an incident over voting machines used in a Madhya Pradesh state election. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Image: Indian athlete's congratulation ceremony banner credits Modi for medal win Several accounts on Facebook and Twitter have shared an image of a congratulatory banner that credits Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for champion weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu's silver medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. However, the image has been doctored. The real banner does not thank Modi for Chanu's win. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of a Philippine opposition lawmaker holding a land title to part of the South China Sea A Facebook post shares a photo alongside a claim it shows a Philippine opposition lawmaker holding the land title for part of the South China Sea. The claim is false; the image actually shows the lawmaker holding a complaint he filed against Rodrigo Duterte in May 2016, before Duterte became president of the Philippines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Wearing mask for a long can cause Hypercapnia Multiple Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts shared hundreds of times claim that wearing a face mask for an extended period of time could cause hypercapnia, a condition caused by a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. The claim is misleading; health experts in Thailand have said that as of May 2020, there is no evidence that wearing a mask for a long period can cause hypercapnia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: DHS will target people who believe in 2020 election fraud An online article claims the US Department of Homeland Security will target anyone who believes the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent or raises doubts about Covid-19 guidance. This is misleading; the report on domestic violent extremism cited as evidence is about DHS staff, not the general population, and its recommendations indicate the department has yet to finalize its policy. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows French immigrants threaten to "rape and beheading people” A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple social media posts that falsely claim it shows immigrants in France threatening to "rape and behead" people as "Europe now belongs to them". The clip, which has circulated since at least July 2019, in fact shows football fans celebrating in Paris during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament and speaking about how peaceful the crowd was. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: UK government banned Covid vaccine for children age 5-11 Social media posts shared thousands of times claim the UK government has scrapped Covid-19 vaccination for children aged five to 11 over concerns about side effects. This is incorrect; children are eligible for the jab if they have turned five before September 2022. Children who turn five on or after September 1 are only eligible if they are clinically vulnerable or are living with someone who is. Some scientists criticised the cutoff and pointed to the benefits of vaccinating children. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Getting the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine increases risk of catching the novel coronavirus Multiple Facebook posts share a claim that people become more prone to Covid-19 infection after they receive their first of two vaccine doses. The claim is misleading: while people who have received the Covid-19 jab can still contract the virus, getting the vaccine itself does not increase the risk of Covid-19 infection. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: Summary of Canada's government response to the novel coronavirus outbreak As the US government moved to approve a $2 trillion stimulus package to address the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, a short block of text outlining Canada’s alleged response to the outbreak flourished on social media. The claims about school closings and economic support are misleading; no province has officially closed schools through the end of the year, only individuals directly impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for financial aid, and mortgage relief is granted by banks on a case by case basis. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. A photo has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit alongside a claim it shows Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara pointing a gun at two women. The claim is false; the photo shows a theatrical scene staged in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 22 years after Guevara’s death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show new Philippine coins and bills Social media posts shared thousands of times misleadingly claim the Philippines released new money, including a 150-peso, 500-peso and 5,000-peso banknote and a 100-peso coin. But the archipelago nation's central bank said it had not issued a 150-peso or released a new 500-peso banknote. The posts also shared photos of a commemorative 5,000-peso banknote and a 100-peso coin which have not been circulated widely. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Image shows Nitai Das Prabhu who died during Bangladesh temple attacks A photo is circulating in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a monk who was killed in a spate of violence that broke out during a Hindu festival in Bangladesh in October. The claim is false; the photo shows a different monk who told AFP on November 11 that he was alive and well. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 treatments recommended by the dean of Thailand’s Siriraj Hospital? A video has been shared repeatedly in multiple Facebook posts that claim it shows the dean of Thailand’s Siriraj Hospital recommending certain treatments for Covid-19, including taking "3,000-5,000 mg" of vitamin C each day. The claim is false; the man in the misleading footage is not Siriraj hospital’s dean. Health experts warn against following the purported advice in the video. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Spam-shaped building is actual headquarters for brand in South Korea Multiple Facebook posts have shared an image of a building shaped like a can of Spam alongside a claim it shows the actual headquarters for the brand in South Korea. Comments from several social media users on the posts suggested they believed the claim. The image, however, was originally shared by pages that regularly post satirical content. As of May 21, 2021 the building pictured in the image was entirely residential. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jumping 15-20 times will help old people urinate Multiple social media posts have circulated in Thailand claiming "jumping high for about 15 to 20 times" cures difficulties in urinating for elderly adults. These posts are false. Health experts told AFP the purported remedy is "100 percent wrong" and "extremely dangerous" as it could lead to injuries in elderly people. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Dominion voting systems used in 2020 New Zealand parliamentary elections Multiple Facebook posts claim US-based company Dominion Voting Systems, which has been the centre of conspiracy theories and false claims of voter fraud in the United States, was used in New Zealand’s 2020 election. The posts question whether Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was legitimately elected. The claims are misleading: the New Zealand Electoral Commission told AFP they do not use machines or software from Dominion Voting Systems. In October 2020, Prime Minister Ardern won a landslide victory in New Zealand's general election, leveraging success battling Covid-19 into an unprecedented majority. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Pfizer executive vice-president Rady Johnson was arrested for fraud Social media posts say that Pfizer's Executive Vice President Rady Johnson has been arrested and charged with fraud. This is false; the article that originated the claim says that it is satire, and a Pfizer representative said the allegation was untrue, branding it "ridiculous." (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Mexican politician removes clothes to protest against corruption An image has been repeatedly shared on Thai social media posts in September 2021 alongside a claim that it shows a Mexican politician stripping while giving a speech against corruption and poverty. This claim is misleading: the image shows a Mexican parliament member removing his clothes in protest against an energy bill in December 2013, while likening the bill to "stripping the nation". His comments do not contain the purported quote shared in the misleading posts. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: South African police advertises 2021 learnership programme A Facebook account falsely purporting to belong to the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been misleading social media users into believing that it’s promoting an opportunity for hundreds of unemployed people. AFP Fact Check found that the advert is a hoax: police have confirmed the page is fake and there is no such traineeship programme at the moment. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Time magazine created a list of leaders who would harm the world Social media users in South Korea have repeatedly shared a false claim that Time magazine created a list of leaders most likely to harm the world, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Russia's Vladimir Putin topping the ranking. A Time spokesperson said the claim was inaccurate, while AFP found no trace of such a list on the publication's website, as of November 28. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: New Zealand border workers could be fined $4000 or imprisoned if they are not vaccinated A video of a New Zealand-based YouTuber claiming that “frontline workers” could be fined NZ$4000 (US$2,872) or even imprisoned if they are not vaccinated against Covid-19 has been viewed thousands of times in multiple posts on YouTube and Facebook. The claim is false: a New Zealand Ministry of Health spokesperson told AFP that new regulations mean some workers at airports, ports and quarantine facilities will face a NZ$1000 fine if they continue to work while unvaccinated against Covid-19. The law does not state they can be imprisoned if they ignore the rules, the spokesperson said. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows Amy Coney Barrett sworn in as US Supreme Court justice A video of Judge Amy Coney Barrett swearing an oath has been viewed tens of thousands of times on Twitter, Weibo and Facebook alongside a claim that Barrett has been sworn in as a justice on the US Supreme Court. The claim is false: the footage in fact shows Barrett as a Supreme Court nominee taking an oath before her confirmation hearing in the US Senate. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Putin has started to wear bulletproof vest in May 2022? An image of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been shared thousands of times online alongside a claim he "has started to wear a bulletproof vest" after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Part of Putin's wrinkled suit jacket was circled in the posts as evidence for the claim. The photo has been shared in a false context: it has circulated in reports since mid-2017, almost five years before Russian troops invaded Ukraine. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: EU nations exit from fossil fuel treaty and discard climate commitments Legal experts say a claim shared across social media misleadingly suggests that several European nations, including France and the Netherlands, have withdrawn from a decades-old Energy Charter Treaty (ETC) because they are "jumping ship on climate commitments". In fact, the experts say, France and the Netherlands announced that a proposed amendment to the treaty does not accord with the Paris Agreement, making it "incompatible with (their) climate goals". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: USPS is not losing money and has no debt A dispute between Congress and the Trump administration over funding to help the United States Postal Service (USPS) through the novel coronavirus led tens of thousands of people to share an old Facebook post claiming that the agency is not losing money and has no debt. This is false; the USPS had a net loss of $8.8 billion in 2019, and its total liabilities exceed $97 billion, according to official disclosures. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: People flee Kashmir as India starts war in Pakistan A video that has been viewed more than a million times on Facebook purportedly shows people in Kashmir fleeing to safety after war between India and Pakistan begins. The claim is false; the footage has circulated online since 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows a triple-jabbed doctor in Australia collapsing mid-surgery As South Korea recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, a video circulated alongside a Korean-language claim that it shows a triple-jabbed doctor collapsing while performing surgery in Australia. However, the video -- which has been viewed hundreds of times -- has been shared in a false context. It has previously circulated in news reports about an incident in China since January 2020, when Covid-19 vaccines were not yet available. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Aam Aadmi Party's rally in Gujarat led by Gopal Italia An old image of a massive crowd has been shared hundreds of times in Twitter and Facebook posts that falsely claim it shows a rally staged by an Indian opposition party ahead of the state elections in Gujarat state. In reality, the image was shot in West Bengal and shows the massive crowd that attended the state's annual Martyrs' Day commemoration in 2017. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Voter's party affiliation is visible on outside of mail-in ballot A video showing two mail-in envelopes that displayed the voters’ party affiliation led to claims that ballots sent through the mail for November’s presidential election will not be secret. This is false; the ballots in the video are from an August 2020 closed primary election in Florida, when voters could only cast ballots for their own party. A local election official said envelopes for November’s vote will not reveal any party affiliation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of shows mosque at Old Delhi railway station in India A photo of what appears to be an Islamic building on a railway station platform has been shared hundreds of times in multiple Facebook posts that claim it was taken in India’s capital Delhi. The claim is false: the photo actually shows a shrine at a railway station in the north Indian city of Prayagraj. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Price increases are caused by corporate greed, not inflation Facebook posts claim that the rising cost of goods in the United States is due to price gouging rather than inflation. But experts rejected the idea that corporations are the main culprit and said the spike in prices follows big federal spending, heightened demand, and supply problems, all of which have accompanied the pandemic. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows Vladimir Putin reading a book by ousted Pakistan PM Khan A doctored photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been shared thousands of times in social media posts that falsely claim it shows him reading a book written by the ousted Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan. But the image has been digitally altered from a photo of Putin holding a book about the development and growth of Russia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Ronaldo refuses to shake hands with Israeli A video of football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been viewed millions of times in multiple posts that claim it shows him refusing to shake hands with an Israeli man in a bid to show solidarity with Palestinians. The claim is false: the clip shows Ronaldo removing his silver medal after his team Juventus lost the final of the Italian Super Cup in December 2019. The man in the video was the then Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Leaked photo of internal election survey shows India’s ruling BJP party gaining seats in West Bengal election An image has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Instagram that purports to show an election survey conducted by a political consultancy group in India. The posts claim the "leaked" image shows the country’s ruling political party will gain seats in the 2021 legislative elections in West Bengal. The photo, however, is “fake” according to the consultancy group, whose director's name is misspelled in the image. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Nigerian Facebook page claims US military weapons belong to Israel Several images of warplanes and missile systems have been shared on Facebook as claimed evidence of Israel’s military might and superior firepower over Nigeria, where three Israeli filmmakers were recently arrested. The claim, however, is misleading: four of the images show Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system, but the rest feature various US military weapons. Some of the pictures have had Israeli flags added to them. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "More people showed up to vote for Treasurer than Governor" in Arizona Social media users claim fewer votes were cast for governor than for state treasurer in Arizona during the November 8, 2022 midterm elections, a discrepancy some attributed to malfeasance. This is false; preliminary results show roughly 60,000 more votes were tallied in the governor's race, which experts say is typical. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Boko Haram raising flag near Nigeria's capital A video has been shared thousands of times on Facebook with the claim that it shows Boko Haram insurgents hoisting their flag in Niger state, close to Nigeria’s capital Abuja. This is false: the clip, filmed in 2011 during the Libyan Civil War, shows rebel fighters at the western entrance to the city of Ajdabiya. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: The video is an animation created by a special effects designer and shows a real Apple vehicle A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo alongside a claim it shows an electric car made by US technology company Apple. The claim is false; the footage is actually a digital animation created by a special effects artist on Chinese video platform Douyin, who told AFP that her team superimposed the Apple logo onto the car. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: "Died Suddenly" film proves Covid-19 vaccines are a depopulation plot Public health authorities say Covid-19 vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness and death, but a video watched more than 10 million times claims they are part of a depopulation conspiracy. Experts called the hour-long film "disinformation," pointing to multiple false claims, data showing millions of lives saved during the pandemic due to vaccination, and a lack of evidence supporting its assertions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: First UK coronavirus vaccine volunteer died after trial An online report shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter claims that one of Britain’s first volunteers to be injected with a trial coronavirus vaccine has died. However, the claim is false, originating from a website with a history of spreading misinformation. The volunteer, herself, has dismissed the report, which was also denied by UK health officials and the scientists behind the trial. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: These photos show victims of mosque attack in India Photos appearing to show men in white shrouds laying on the ground are circulating in Facebook posts that claim they are victims of an unspecified mosque attack in the Indian capital Delhi. In fact, the photos have circulated in news reports about demonstrators protesting a citizenship law in February 2020 in western Maharashtra state. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Crack found at Lake Duminagat could trigger more flooding False claims that warn of potential flooding due to a "crack in a lake" in the southern Philippines have circulated online after floods and landslides killed dozens across the disaster-prone archipelago over the Christmas weekend. Local officials denied issuing the warning and told AFP they visited the area and found no signs of a crack. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Partly False: BA pilots died after forced vaccination, BA in crisis talks with government Social media users claim that British Airways pilots died from Covid-19 vaccines, which some who made the online allegations say the airline mandated, leading to talks with the UK government over whether pilots can fly after inoculation. While the company experienced the loss of several pilots, it denies any link between the deaths, does not insist on vaccination for those who fly their planes, and both a regulatory agency and the company denied being in “crisis talks.” (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Wearing face masks causes neurological damage Posts based on a video by a German neurologist have been shared thousands of times on Facebook making several claims about the alleged dangers of wearing face masks, notably that rebreathing oxygen in the mask leads to neurological damage. According to experts, this is false, since these masks allow fresh air to pass through and oxygen to be inhaled. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Non-wounded Korean War veterans receive fewer benefits than those who participated in the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising A chart circulated in multiple Facebook posts purports to show Korean War veterans in South Korea receive lower government benefits than a group of South Korean pro-democracy demonstrators who protested against the military junta in 1980. But the posts present the data in a misleading way: the South Korean government assesses benefits for members of the two groups based on the injury level of the claimant. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Photos show footballer Cristiano Ronaldo converted to Islam Two photos of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo have been shared repeatedly on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and in blog posts alongside a claim he converted to Islam. The claim is misleading; the photos have circulated online since 2014 in reports about Ronaldo visiting Dubai. There are no credible media reports or public statements indicating that Ronaldo, who is reportedly Catholic, has converted to Islam. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Hindu holy man, or sadhu, beaten by Muslim man in India A video is circulating in social media posts in Hindu-majority India that claim it shows a Muslim man harassing a Hindu holy man and chopping off his hair. However, police said the attacker was Hindu, not Muslim, and that the incident was not religiously motivated. Local media reported that the accused was drunk and attacked the man following an altercation. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Indian Muslim cleric talks about injecting mind controlling chip through COVID-19 vaccine A video has been viewed thousands of times in multiple Facebook and YouTube posts that claim it shows an Indian Muslim cleric talking about a mind-controlling microchip injected through Covid-19 vaccinations. The video was promoted online by official spokesmen for India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who mocked the cleric in their tweets. The claim that the man speaking in the video is an Indian Muslim cleric, however, is false: the video has circulated in reports about a cleric in Pakistan. Health experts have refuted the cleric's suggestions about Covid-19 vaccines. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Mixture: Animal extinctions are down 90 percent since the last century A tweet shared thousands of times over the past two weeks suggests that koala, whale, and polar bear populations are thriving, and that extinctions are on the decline overall, citing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a source. This is misleading; koalas are considered a vulnerable population by the IUCN, overall whale and polar bear populations are not thriving despite certain healthy subspopulations, and the IUCN told AFP extinctions are not down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bill Gates offered a blank cheque to a journalist during an interview Multiple social media posts in various languages have shared an image they claim shows Microsoft founder Bill Gates offering a journalist a blank cheque to teach them about the importance of not missing opportunities. According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this interaction did not happen. The photo used in the misleading posts shows Gates accepting a gift after appearing on a British TV show in 2016. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of Taliban killing Christians A graphic video showing the execution of a group of men has been shared thousands of times on Facebook alongside claims that it depicts the slaughter of Christians in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. This is false; the footage is from a 2014 Islamic State (IS) propaganda video showing the massacre of Iraqi soldiers and Shia Muslims. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenyan policeman arrested for violence at political rally Facebook posts claiming to show the arrest of a Kenyan police officer linked to the chaos witnessed at a recent political rally of Kenya's deputy president William Ruto in the country’s Nyanza region have been shared more than a hundred times online. The claim is false; the image is old and shows a policeman arrested in 2019 during an anti-corruption blitz. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: A photo shows the Nashville school shooter's bedroom A photo of a cluttered room decorated with LGBTQ and other flags has spread online alongside claims that it was home to the shooter who killed six people at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. This is false; the picture was posted in December 2021 by a Twitter user who shared "before and after" shots of a bedroom cleaning effort, reverse image searches prove. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Klaus Schwab says property ownership is unsustainable in WEF tweet Social media posts share screenshots of a purported World Economic Forum (WEF) tweet in which its founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab says that eating meat and owning property are in direct conflict with moves to lower carbon emissions. But the message does not appear on the official Twitter account of the WEF, nor in a web archive search from the day it was supposedly published, and a spokeswoman said the organization did not send the tweet. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Missing Context: Philippine Supreme Court 'passed' law punishing unfaithful husbands A claim that the Philippine Supreme Court "passed" a new law that could "imprison husbands proven to be unfaithful" has been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook in October 2020. However, this claim omits important context: the Supreme Court recently ruled to uphold a lower court's decision that delivered a prison sentence to a man found guilty of having an affair; the lower court decision is in line with an anti-violence against women law that came into force in 2004. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo shows mosque set on fire by extremists in France A photo has been shared in multiple Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a mosque set on fire by “extremists” in France. The claim is false: the image shows a mosque in the US state of Connecticut where a fire broke out in 2019. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows children going to school during Shanghai's Covid lockdown A video of a group of children wearing hazmat suits has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows them attending school in Shanghai during the city's Covid-19 lockdown. However, the video was actually filmed in China's northern Hebei province. Schools in Shanghai -- China's largest city -- reverted to online learning in mid-March and in-person classes were not scheduled to resume until June. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Posts claim video shows opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari does not know how basic foodstuff is weighed and sold in Pakistan A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter which claim it shows a Pakistani opposition leader incorrectly giving the price of certain groceries in Pakistan. The posts claim the video is evidence that the politician is unfit to become the leader of Pakistan. The claim is false; the video has been doctored and there is no record of the politician making such a statement. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Satire: Photo shows Thais paying respect to late Thai King’s dog An image has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter that purports to show a group of Thai people paying their respects to the dead dog of former Thai King Rama IX alongside a claim that suggests it is a genuine photo. But the image has been doctored to include the dog; the original Reuters photo shows well-wishers praying for the health of Thailand's former king Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2014. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: India's Ministry of Health spokesman died after Covid-19 vaccination Multiple Twitter and Facebook posts claim that a male doctor they name as the spokesman for the Indian health ministry died on June 16, 2021 after receiving a Covid-19 vaccination. The claim is false: as of July 12, 2021, the man -- Dr Subramanian Swaminathan -- is not dead. He is the director of infectious diseases at an Indian hospital, not the spokesman for the Indian health ministry. The video shared in the posts shows him talking about India's first suspected vaccine-related death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of serial killer on the loose in US county There has been no end to the battery of hoax alerts on Facebook warning of various dangers purportedly facing towns and suburbs in the US and Canada. The latest tells of a serial killer supposedly “hunting” for victims in America and includes a booking photo of the alleged suspect. This is false; the images show inmates jailed for unrelated crimes. Police in the US and Canada also refuted the newest warning, again evidently peddled via a group of Facebook accounts created in Zimbabwe. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Bitcoin mining emits zero carbon emissions An American bitcoin mining company claims creating the world's largest cryptocurrency produces no greenhouse gases. This is false; the process requires a significant amount of energy, experts say -- which can come from carbon-emitting sources such as natural gas or coal-fired power plants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi lost her seat in the Myanmar election on November 8, 2020. A video has been viewed tens of thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts alongside a claim that Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi lost her seat in the Myanmar election on November 8, 2020. The claim is misleading; as of the morning of November 9, no official winner had been declared in Myanmar’s general election and Aung San Suu Kyi was expected to retain power. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Job adverts for Kenyan supermarket chain Naivas A Google document shared in Facebook posts claims to advertise hundreds of jobs at Naivas Supermarket, a leading supermarket chain in Kenya. In order to apply, users are required to fill out a form and pay a “registration fee”. But AFP Fact Check found the adverts to be a hoax; Naivas denied any association with the purported listings, saying that it does not recruit on Facebook nor demand a fee from applicants. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Covid-19 vaccines are unsafe like thalidomide Social media posts warn of rapidly developed pharmaceuticals such as the Covid-19 vaccines by citing thalidomide, a sedative from the 1950s that caused serious birth defects. But the US regulator responsible for approving drugs did not accept thalidomide at the time, regulations have been considerably tightened since, and Covid-19 vaccines are the result of extensive research and were subject to clinical trials and independent review. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Russian army choristers got arrested for singing song about peace A video circulating online after Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has racked up tens of thousands of views alongside a claim it shows members of the "Russian army choir" being arrested for singing about peace in Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg. In reality, the video corresponds to old footage published in reports since 2015 about a stunt staged to promote the James Bond film "Spectre". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Money for Indonesia’s healthcare programme used to build toll roads Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times feature a picture of a signboard with a text saying money for Indonesia’s healthcare programme has been used to build toll roads. The image has been doctored; the genuine one contains different text with no references to toll roads. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Saudi ruler gifts Ronaldo a golden motorbike A clip has been shared multiple times on social media in Nigeria with a claim that it shows a golden motorcycle given to Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo by the ruler of Saudi Arabia. But this is false: the bike is owned by a Saudi motorcycle enthusiast and was not presented to Ronaldo as a gift. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Air forces in Sri Lanka and the Philippines are spraying COVID-19 disinfectant from military helicopters Purported advisories urging residents to stay indoors while national air force helicopters spray disinfectant over homes to kill off the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, have been circulated online in Sri Lanka and the Philippines. The warning messages have been shared thousands of times on Facebook and WhatsApp. But the claim is false; both the Sri Lankan and Philippine governments said their air forces were not involved in any such operations. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Seoul City has planned zero budget in 2022 for gender projects Social media posts circulating in South Korea claim Seoul city hall has planned to invest "zero" cash in measures to improve gender equality in its 2022 budget. The posts are misleading; a spokesman for the city hall said the budget, set to be submitted in November, would allocate funds to support gender equality and development. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Taking diclofenac after Covid-19 vaccine leads to death Multiple posts on Facebook and WhatsApp in Nigeria claim that taking anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac or having “any anaesthesia” within two years of a Covid-19 vaccine leads to death. This is false; while experts discourage the use of analgesics before taking the vaccine, this is because the effect on the jab’s ability to create an immune response is unclear. There is no evidence to show that painkillers taken after the Covid-19 vaccine cause death. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: White mugwort, miracle food to cure cancer Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Thailand recommend drinking the juice of white mugwort, a type of plant used in Asian cuisines, to "cure cancer". The claim is false. Health experts warn there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the herb can cure cancer, while Thailand's National Cancer Institute said it was "fake news". (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: CNN tweet shows abandoned Serbian hotel but claims it was bombed in Ukraine Multiple social media posts claim CNN fabricated a story about a "bomb attack" at the hotel of a journalist in Ukraine in a tweet that actually showed an old photo of a hotel in Serbia. However, CNN reported no such story and said the tweet was fake. The screenshot of the doctored tweet features the social media handle of a prankster who has previously shared fake CNN tweets. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Misleading: Image of a church recently destroyed in Eritrea Posts claiming to show a church destroyed by the Ethiopian government during the recent conflict in the Tigray region have been shared multiple times on Facebook and Twitter. The claim is misleading; the church depicted in the images was destroyed in battle by Ethiopian forces, but more than 20 years ago. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Photo of people who had been dead for 100 years and then came back to life A photo has been shared in multiple Indonesian-language blog and Facebook posts alongside a claim that it shows two people who came back to life after they were dead for a century. However, the claim is false; the photo shows a ritual ceremony to clean mummified corpses in Indonesia's Sulawesi island. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Jakarta governor tries out motorsport circuit A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim that it shows Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan falling from a motorbike in the Indonesian capital in 2021. The claim is false; the video shows Anies losing his balance while riding a motorbike in 2018. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Nurse takes photo of pigeon visiting lonely patient An old photo of a pigeon on a hospital bed has resurfaced online, with users claiming a nurse took the picture while the animal was visiting a patient who used to feed birds in a park. But the story is an urban legend. In reality, the image was taken by a photographer who spotted the animal during a chance encounter while visiting his father in a Greek hospital. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Footage of bandits struck by thunder in Nigeria Footage of several charred bodies lying on the ground has been circulating on WhatsApp with claims it shows bandits struck by “lightning and thunder” while on the way to attack Christians in Nigeria’s majority-Muslim Zamfara state. However, the claim is false: the video was filmed in Tanzania in 2019 and shows victims of a tanker explosion in the country’s eastern city of Morogoro. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Tweets from the Israeli prime minister’s official Twitter account show the country was responsible for the Beirut explosion Social media posts claim tweets from the Israeli prime minister’s official Twitter account indicate the country was responsible for a massive explosion that devastated Beirut. But the tweets -- which were sent well before the blast in Lebanon -- actually referred to strikes in Syria the day before. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Saudi king inaugurates a church Two photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim they show the king of Saudi Arabia inaugurating a church. The claim is false; the first image shows a minister from the United Arab Emirates inaugurating a church in Abu Dhabi; the second image shows a Kuwait pastor at his church in Kuwait City. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan swaying during earthquake After a powerful earthquake jolted Taiwan on September 18, a video that appeared to show the Taipei 101 skyscraper swaying dramatically racked up tens of thousands of views in posts claiming it showed genuine footage from the quake. However, the tower's management debunked the "animated video", which surfaced online before the earthquake struck. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: This video shows rain falling on one spot A viral video posted by a spoof account of Nigerian music star Patoranking claims to show rain falling on one spot from the sky. But the image, which has been widely shared for more than two years, is actually of water bursting up from the ground and falling back down. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Industrialist Vijaypat Singhania and his wife singing A video has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows Indian tycoon Vijaypat Singhania and his wife -- embroiled in a legal battle with their son -- singing their troubles away. But the claim is false. The video was actually filmed by a documentary filmmaker from Pakistan for her family and does not show the tycoon Singhania and his wife. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Altered Photo: Poster shows 1918 influenza health advice Social media posts claim to show a public health poster from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that echoes Covid-19 safety guidelines -- wear a mask, wash hands, keep a "safe distance" from others. But the image text has been altered; the original version was used in a 1919 Red Cross Christmas campaign to fight tuberculosis, and it did not contain such instructions. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Video of Indonesian President Jokowi without a mask at National Games in Papua in October 2021 A video has been viewed thousands of times in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife dancing without face masks at the National Games event in October 2021. The claim is false; the footage was filmed in October 2019, months before Indonesia reported its first Covid-19 cases. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Kenya's Ruto among TIME's '50 most influential' Just a day after US-based TIME magazine published its list of the 100 most influential people of the year, a purported cover was shared online featuring Kenya’s President William Ruto as one of those selected. But this is false: Ruto was not on TIME’s 2023 list, nor did his portrait appear on the magazine’s cover. The image of the fake cover was digitally altered. TIME has also dismissed the claim as fake. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

False: Trump cannot run in 2024 if indicted, convicted or in jail Posts on Twitter claim Donald Trump's historic indictment in New York will bar him from entering the 2024 presidential race. This is false; even if the former president is convicted of a felony, this would not necessarily disqualify him from running for office under the US constitution, legal experts told AFP. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)